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August and Eleanor are always buckled up in the car, without exception, but I’m sure you would have assumed that. They’re always buckled up in the stroller too though. Eleanor’s getting old enough to not need the stroller at all (she walks a lot of the time), and when she does want a ride she can be counted on to stay put without being strapped in. The thing is though, that she insists on it.
I only have myself to blame, of course! Eleanor and August thrive on routine and consistency when it comes to learning rules and good behavior, so those rules like buckling up have become automatic. It’s a little ridiculous sometimes, really. Baby dolls need to be buckled in. And don’t let those kitties fool you – they’re safety-minded too! Even if they are riding 2-up.
The kids know that getting buckled up is just part of sitting in the car, so it’s not an issue. And maybe I’ll change my tune eventually, but I’m a stickler for the rules and the car is just for driving. Our minivan has built-in TV screens and a DVD player that we’ve never used, so the kids don’t realize they’re there. We don’t eat food in the car. We don’t even drink anything in the car except water. It’s best for them, but the rule is also there so that if they spill, it won’t stain anything or end up a sticky mess. Any toys the kids bring in with them need to come back out with them.
Balloons are allowed of course. Nay, encouraged.
Rachel
August 21, 2012 at 9:41 amThat is so great! So many kids these days can’t sit still in the car without being constantly entertained with a snack or tv.
Trisha
August 21, 2012 at 10:02 amYey for safety!! My 3yo got to ‘drive’ my car (in our driveway, keys in the house, emergency brake engaged) and the very first thing she did?? Pulled the seatbelt across and buckled up :) On the other hand, I saw a young mother with an infant not old enough to sit up yet, a young man with her, and an older grandparent-type adult in the driver’s seat pull up to the grocery store, sans any car seat in the vehicle :(
Making it Lovely
August 21, 2012 at 11:02 amI’ve seen people drive around with their little kids running around in the backseat! It’s crazy.
Giulia
August 21, 2012 at 10:02 amThe messiest thing I find with the car are the arts and crafts things they bring home from daycare and school. I find glitter, pompoms, feathers, beads, etc. all over.
Making it Lovely
August 21, 2012 at 11:01 amAh, we’ll be having that problem soon, I’m sure. Eleanor starts preschool in a couple of weeks.
Brandie
August 21, 2012 at 10:31 amThat last photo is the sweetest!
Brooke
August 21, 2012 at 10:36 amWouldn’t a balloon impair visibility? That would make me really nervous. My baby just turned one, so we don’t have too many rules yet, but snacks are a must. We regularly make the 4 hour trek to my family’s house, and we all get hungry! Though it’s so much better now to hand her a snack and some milk rather than stopping to breastfeed :)
Making it Lovely
August 21, 2012 at 11:00 amI learned to drive in a full-sized van with no back windows, so a balloon or two is fine compared to that!
Brianne Joy
August 21, 2012 at 10:56 amI’ve admired the names of your children since I first began following your blog… but, I felt the need to tell you today! I love Eleanor and August. :)
Making it Lovely
August 21, 2012 at 11:03 amThanks!
Mary
August 21, 2012 at 2:17 pmGood for you! My husband’s grandkids can’t seem to ride in their parent’s mimi-van without a movie in the DVD player & a snack. And mom’s on the phone!
When my daughter was young, those types of things weren’t invented yet. So we talked to each other! Crazy, right? She’s 37 now & still remembers some of the conversations we had back then.
Desiree
August 21, 2012 at 4:14 pmI’ve been noticing SO many children that aren’t in proper safety seats. It is absurd. I actually saw a child in a forward facing car seat roll across the backseat when the car turned because the seat was not buckled into the car. The woman just reached around and flipped the child back up (while she was driving) … insane.
Making it Lovely
August 21, 2012 at 9:49 pmWow. That’s really crazy. A car seat’s not going to do much good if it isn’t actually attached to the car!
Lucy
August 21, 2012 at 4:19 pmMy daughter who is 6 brings her doll in the car in its own car seat which gets buckled up with the seat belt! Even fake babies have to be safety aware in our car – or she is telling me driving is bad!
Catherine
August 21, 2012 at 9:43 pmI envy your no snacking in the car rule – I wish I’d stuck to that. While we usually don’t watch anything on the DVD in our minivan, we do use it for long trips. (over three hours – i.e. to the grandparents house). My daughter is 3 as well, and she insists on being buckled when she’s on the stroller, too! Which can be a pain sometimes as she tends to want to jump out to walk, or smell flowers, etc. quite regularly! And yes, I’m a car seat stickler as well. I’ve seen some crazy crazy things.
Making it Lovely
August 21, 2012 at 9:47 pmI know! Sometimes I’ll try to tell E that no, she doesn’t need to be buckled in to the stroller (because she wants to sit, get up, sit, get up…) but she’ll not have it.
Audrey
August 22, 2012 at 7:59 amI’m glad you’re so safety conscious. I’ve noticed a trend in people to look at their own childhoods and determine that they “were fine,” so the modern safety rules are clearly over-kill.
kate
August 22, 2012 at 4:32 pmYes! Great photos too..
Kristyn @ Organic Grey
August 22, 2012 at 7:35 pmgood for you and yay for seatbelts! my mother always stressed that when we were little, and it’s stuck with me to this day. it’s such a good habit!
xo,
kristyn
Stephanie
August 28, 2012 at 9:39 amI love that your kids don’t eat or watch TV in the car! That’s how it always was for us growing up and it seems like too few parents insist on it anymore. Must be great having a clean car even with two kids.