I am all about carseat safety. My family calls me a "carseat nazi". Corbin rearfaced in the carseat until 18 months and would have gone longer except he outgrew the seat. I plan to keep him harnessed until he's 5 or 6 - when ever he outgrows the seat he's in. I cringe when I see carseats installed wrong, loose harness straps, or kids wearing coats in the carseat. A girl at work brought her baby in and the carseat was a hot mess, so I fixed it for her without even asking. To me - there's no point in using the carseat if it's not being used right!
So a couple of weeks ago, my car was in the shop. James picked me up after work and we stopped to get Corbin on the way home. We did not have the carseat with us, but since his daycare is literally just around the corner from the house, I sucked it up. As we got in the car, Corbin asked if he could drive daddy's truck. My gut instinct was to say no. No way can you drive daddy's truck! We're already being completely unsafe - this is a horrible idea!!!
Well James said sure, popped him on his lap, and started the truck.
And we were off....
Of course, I'm flipping out the majority of the less than a minute trip home. Really not comfortable with this, what is my husband thinking....blah blah blah....
And then...
I looked over at Corbin and he is in HEAVEN. The grin on his face, the excitement in his eyes - this kid is having the time of his life. And it reminded me of when I was a little girl.
So a couple of weeks ago, my car was in the shop. James picked me up after work and we stopped to get Corbin on the way home. We did not have the carseat with us, but since his daycare is literally just around the corner from the house, I sucked it up. As we got in the car, Corbin asked if he could drive daddy's truck. My gut instinct was to say no. No way can you drive daddy's truck! We're already being completely unsafe - this is a horrible idea!!!
Well James said sure, popped him on his lap, and started the truck.
And we were off....
Of course, I'm flipping out the majority of the less than a minute trip home. Really not comfortable with this, what is my husband thinking....blah blah blah....
And then...
I looked over at Corbin and he is in HEAVEN. The grin on his face, the excitement in his eyes - this kid is having the time of his life. And it reminded me of when I was a little girl.
I am sure that my daddy let me drive his vehicle at some point in time before I was legally supposed to. I vaguely remember that. But what stands out as a favorite memory to me is this....my grandpa used to let us sit on his lap and drive the car or the tractor. And we always felt so grown up and important and special doing it. It was so exciting and so much fun and obviously I loved it b/c 20 yrs later it's one of my favorite childhood memories.
While Corbin won't be driving again for a very long time - I'm glad his daddy overruled me and let him that day. He may not remember it - but we will. And the look on his face and the good time he had is one of my favorite Corbin memories.
On a side note....as I was driving to work yesterday the song "when daddy let me drive" by Alan Jackson came on the radio. Made me think of my sweet boy. I'll post the words below:
It was painted red
It's stripe was white
It was 18 feet
From the bow to the stern light
2nd hand from a dealer in Atlanta
I rode up with daddy
When he went there to get her
Put on a shine
Put on a motor
Built out of love
And made for water
Ran it for years
Till the transom got rotten
A piece of my childhood that'll never be forgotten
It was, just an old plywood boat
75 johnson with electric choke
A young boy, two hands on the wheel
I cant replace the way it made me feel
And I would turn it shore line, and, make it wide
He'd say, ya can't beat the way an old wood boat rides
Just a little lake across the Alabama line
But I was king of the ocean, when daddy let me drive
Just an old 1/2 ton, short-bed Ford
My uncle bought new, in '64
Daddy got it right
Cause the engine was smokin'
Couple of burnt valves and he had it goin'
He'd let me drive her when we'd haul off a load
Down a dirt strip, where we'd dump trash
Off of Thickpin Road
I would sit on the seat
And stretch my feet out to the pedals
Smiling like a hero that just received his medal
It was just an old hand-me-down ford
With 3 speed on the column
And a dent in the door
A young boy, 2 hands on the wheel
I can't replace the way it, made me feel
And I would press that clutch and I'd keep it right
He'd say a lil' slower son you're doin' just fine
Just a dirt road with trash on each side
But I was Mario Andretti
When daddy let me drive
Im grown up now 3 daughters of my own
I let 'em drive my old jeep
Cross the pasture at our home
Maybe one day they'll reach back in their file
And pull out that old memory
And think of me and smile, and say
It's just an old worn out jeep
With rusty ole floor boards
Hot on my feet
A young girl, two hands on the wheel
I can't replace the way it, made me feel
And he'd say, turn it left now, and steer it right
Straighten up girl now, you're doin' just fine
Just a lil' valley by the river where we'd ride
But I was high on a mountain, when daddy let me drive
Daddy let me drive
It's stripe was white
It was 18 feet
From the bow to the stern light
2nd hand from a dealer in Atlanta
I rode up with daddy
When he went there to get her
Put on a shine
Put on a motor
Built out of love
And made for water
Ran it for years
Till the transom got rotten
A piece of my childhood that'll never be forgotten
It was, just an old plywood boat
75 johnson with electric choke
A young boy, two hands on the wheel
I cant replace the way it made me feel
And I would turn it shore line, and, make it wide
He'd say, ya can't beat the way an old wood boat rides
Just a little lake across the Alabama line
But I was king of the ocean, when daddy let me drive
Just an old 1/2 ton, short-bed Ford
My uncle bought new, in '64
Daddy got it right
Cause the engine was smokin'
Couple of burnt valves and he had it goin'
He'd let me drive her when we'd haul off a load
Down a dirt strip, where we'd dump trash
Off of Thickpin Road
I would sit on the seat
And stretch my feet out to the pedals
Smiling like a hero that just received his medal
It was just an old hand-me-down ford
With 3 speed on the column
And a dent in the door
A young boy, 2 hands on the wheel
I can't replace the way it, made me feel
And I would press that clutch and I'd keep it right
He'd say a lil' slower son you're doin' just fine
Just a dirt road with trash on each side
But I was Mario Andretti
When daddy let me drive
Im grown up now 3 daughters of my own
I let 'em drive my old jeep
Cross the pasture at our home
Maybe one day they'll reach back in their file
And pull out that old memory
And think of me and smile, and say
It's just an old worn out jeep
With rusty ole floor boards
Hot on my feet
A young girl, two hands on the wheel
I can't replace the way it, made me feel
And he'd say, turn it left now, and steer it right
Straighten up girl now, you're doin' just fine
Just a lil' valley by the river where we'd ride
But I was high on a mountain, when daddy let me drive
Daddy let me drive
1 comment:
Awww I love this. I had to do the same in Brasil many many times and while I wouldnt do it again, i had to let myself just enjoy the moment. Glad he had fun!
-h
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