Children’s Car Seats: For the Love of Our Children
It was an incredible rugby game, you know, the kind that has you sitting at the edge of the bleachers or jumping up and down either in sheer delight or utter frustration. It was the end of the season and the winning team would have bragging rights until the next season.
Afterwards everyone remembered a little two year old girl; a beautiful and charming toddler, Angela, a darling of everyone present. She waltzed between the bleachers in her little pink Cinderella dress, shamelessly cheering with whoever was cheering at that moment. At her age she was oblivious to the fact that there were actually two teams; she was just having fun, shouting when the adults did, and enjoying their attention.
The game finally ended; our team won, and we were in seventh heaven, as the saying goes. We said our good byes with hugs and laughter and left the rugby field. Within two hours we had all seen the message on Social Media. All laughter was gone, replaced by shock and disbelief, grief and regret.
Angela had been safely strapped in her car seat when a friend asked for a ride. He was going the same way as her parents, so Angela’s mother took her out of her car seat which was then put in the boot of the car. She sat on her mother’s lap for the twenty-five minute ride home. About fifteen minutes into their journey a matatu blindsided their car and little Angela was thrown through the windscreen onto the road. She did not stand a chance. With her fragile skull crushed she was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital that was just five minutes’ drive from the scene of the accident.
As parents we all know the dangers of having young children riding on the front passenger seat; or standing between the two front seats. We know that car seats are a must for babies and toddlers while booster seats keep slightly older children safe.
Well, I attended my little niece’s memorial service and as I listened to the prayers and watched the adults crying I wondered how many of them would strap their children in car seats thereafter; how many would argue that they were not driving far enough to warrant the safety measure; how many would argue that it was expensive and then go out and put a shoe that was twice the price of a car seat? How many others would deem it too much effort to strap their child each and every time they were driving anywhere regardless of the distance? Are our children’s lives not worth the effort I wonder?
In some countries it is the law, so parents obey it; in others it is the law, but parents still circumvent it. How I wish we did it because of love for our children; love for our parents who should never have to bury their grandchildren and even love for ourselves because the regret from knowing that your own negligence caused your baby’s death can tear you to pieces, destroy a marriage and lead you, yourself to an early grave..
Keep your children safe, won’t you?
This is based on a true story, but the little girl’s name has been changed to protect her family’s identity.
- Category:
- Family & Home
- 31 Mar, 2023
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