We all need a hobby!!!

[smithmom]

Well thats what my FIL said!! Everytime he comes over i am on either on this site or another "preaching"(he says) about car seat safety. :D He says i spend to much time on here:confused: , gee, here i thought my kids safety was something to obsess over:rolleyes:

I thought it was funny, so i thought i would share!!! Figured y'all could use the laugh!

[Simplysomething]

Tell him, this is your hobby!

[_Jessica_]

My hubby must think the same thing.
Atleast 95% of the time when he asks what I'm checking out, I'm on here:D

[JaRylan]

I live alone...noone knows my secrets, lol.

[_Jessica_]

I live alone...noone knows my secrets, lol.

thanks for the giggle:p

[scatterbunny]

I happen to think a hobby like trying to protect children from the leading cause of death for all children over age one is a wonderful hobby to have. At least it truly makes a difference. :)

[arly1983]

Well thats what my FIL said!! Everytime he comes over i am on either on this site or another "preaching"(he says) about car seat safety. :D He says i spend to much time on here:confused: , gee, here i thought my kids safety was something to obsess over:rolleyes:

I thought it was funny, so i thought i would share!!! Figured y'all could use the laugh!

Your FIL and my MIL should get together. Is he single. My MIL is. LOL

[joolsplus3]

Well thats what my FIL said!! Everytime he comes over i am on either on this site or another "preaching"(he says) about car seat safety. :D He says i spend to much time on here:confused: , gee, here i thought my kids safety was something to obsess over:rolleyes:

I thought it was funny, so i thought i would share!!! Figured y'all could use the laugh!

"Honey, your kids are safe enough, get a new hobby"...the 'wise' words of my mother... :D:rolleyes:

[smithmom]

I happen to think a hobby like trying to protect children from the leading cause of death for all children over age one is a wonderful hobby to have. At least it truly makes a difference. :)

Thats what i thought too!!! Oh well at least hubby is on board with me, after all he is the one buying the car seats;) ! It is actually turning into an obsession with him too.

[Patriot201]

My family and friends think the same thing... I spend too much time worrying about this "stuff."

[smithmom]

Your FIL and my MIL should get together. Is he single. My MIL is. LOL

Sadly, he is taken, by a witch that is even worse than him about it. My favorite saying from her is "we didn't need car seats when my kids were little"!! and "if i had the money you have spent on car seats, i wouldn't have to work"!!!

[southpawboston]

"Honey, your kids are safe enough, get a new hobby"...the 'wise' words of my mother... :D:rolleyes:

not to play devil's advocate here, but she has a point. right now your kids are as safe as they can be due to your knowledge of the matter... hanging out here for hours a day isn't going to make them significantly safer, unless the paradigms as we know them suddenly shift and there is radically new safety info available.

but more importantly, if we are to be truly obsessed about our childrens' safety, our obsession should not be so narrowly focused on car seats, since carseats alone are not the be all and end all to a child's safety--they are but one piece of a large puzzle regarding a child's overall automotive safety. there are far broader subjects pertaining to automotive safety that few people here bother to venture into (sadly, for me), such as keeping up with routine safety inspections of their vehicles, knowing they have safe and effective tires inflated to the appropriate pressure (almost 50% of americans are driving on under-inflated or over-inflated tires!!! that is a major safety hazard!), knowing that your lights all work correctly, etc...

so to say that you are obsessed about your child's safety SHOULD imply that you are obsessed with ALL these things, not just carseats. carseats alone are but one safety device in a long list of items necessary for your child's safety.

[flipper68]

I live alone...noone knows my secrets, lol.


Me too. :p

Just add the quote to the "You know you're a car seat freak when. . ." list.

[JaRylan]

not to play devil's advocate here, but she has a point. right now your kids are as safe as they can be due to your knowledge of the matter... hanging out here for hours a day isn't going to make them significantly safer, unless the paradigms as we know them suddenly shift and there is radically new safety info available.

but more importantly, if we are to be truly obsessed about our childrens' safety, our obsession should not be so narrowly focused on car seats, since carseats alone are not the be all and end all to a child's safety--they are but one piece of a large puzzle regarding a child's overall automotive safety. there are far broader subjects pertaining to automotive safety that few people here bother to venture into (sadly, for me), such as keeping up with routine safety inspections of their vehicles, knowing they have safe and effective tires inflated to the appropriate pressure (almost 50% of americans are driving on under-inflated or over-inflated tires!!! that is a major safety hazard!), knowing that your lights all work correctly, etc...

so to say that you are obsessed about your child's safety SHOULD imply that you are obsessed with ALL these things, not just carseats. carseats alone are but one safety device in a long list of items necessary for your child's safety.

Darn it! I had a post all typed up and it hasn't shown up. Maybe it will later. The gist of it was: anytime you want to start a thread on other car safety issues I will read.:)

[canadianmom2three]

Me too - I know there are tons of things I could be doing better, and not just with car safety either, although I must admit I am a bit of a nut when it comes to all things safety...:o DH just remarked last night that I was obsessing too much over sun protection (we are headed south in a week)...

[arly1983]

Me too - I know there are tons of things I could be doing better, and not just with car safety either, although I must admit I am a bit of a nut when it comes to all things safety...:o DH just remarked last night that I was obsessing too much over sun protection (we are headed south in a week)...


My DH says I drive him nuts. They can't enjoy the outdoors without mommy chasing them with sunblock or bug spray.

[scatterbunny]

not to play devil's advocate here, but she has a point. right now your kids are as safe as they can be due to your knowledge of the matter... hanging out here for hours a day isn't going to make them significantly safer, unless the paradigms as we know them suddenly shift and there is radically new safety info available.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I spend so much time here not to learn more to make MY child safer (because as you said, she's as safe as she can be), but to help make OTHER children safer. With statistics of 80%+ carseats being improperly used or not used at all, every bit of help I can give makes a difference. That is important to me, probably my #1 priority behind my family.

but more importantly, if we are to be truly obsessed about our childrens' safety, our obsession should not be so narrowly focused on car seats, since carseats alone are not the be all and end all to a child's safety--they are but one piece of a large puzzle regarding a child's overall automotive safety. there are far broader subjects pertaining to automotive safety that few people here bother to venture into (sadly, for me), such as keeping up with routine safety inspections of their vehicles, knowing they have safe and effective tires inflated to the appropriate pressure (almost 50% of americans are driving on under-inflated or over-inflated tires!!! that is a major safety hazard!), knowing that your lights all work correctly, etc...

so to say that you are obsessed about your child's safety SHOULD imply that you are obsessed with ALL these things, not just carseats. carseats alone are but one safety device in a long list of items necessary for your child's safety.

Point taken. Now go start some threads on these topics so we can all learn more! :p Just as most of us didn't know enough about carseats and boosters before coming here and learning, most of us won't know what we "need" to know about vehicle safety in general if someone with that info doesn't put it out there.

[southpawboston]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I spend so much time here not to learn more to make MY child safer (because as you said, she's as safe as she can be), but to help make OTHER children safer. With statistics of 80%+ carseats being improperly used or not used at all, every bit of help I can give makes a difference. That is important to me, probably my #1 priority behind my family.

good point!



Point taken. Now go start some threads on these topics so we can all learn more! :p Just as most of us didn't know enough about carseats and boosters before coming here and learning, most of us won't know what we "need" to know about vehicle safety in general if someone with that info doesn't put it out there.

sadly, when i was new here, i did, hopng to generate some interest, and the few threads i started peetered out rather quickly (lack of interest?). i realize this is a carseat forum first, and a automotive safety forum second, but you would think that there would be more categories of safety forums or subforums in addition to the main ones here (i mean, if they have a stroller swap forum, they could have some other peripheral safety forums, such as "keeping your car safe", or "safe driving tips"...that sort of idea).

[Jeanum]

Ditto, Jenny. I'm motivated to be here to learn more and to help others who come here to keep their children safer traveling by car, because car travel is statistically the most dangerous thing most of us do on a daily basis. I owe my older DD's safely walking away from two car crashes unharmed to the many folks who volunteer their time and effort on this forum and several other carseat boards. I like to think I'm returning the favor and paying it forward.

Southpaw, why not channel your knowledge of tires/handling/safer driving/selecting car safety features, etc. into writing up a great article for the Safety Articles forum? Share your vehicle safety knowledge for everyone's benefit here. :)

[JaRylan]

good point!




sadly, when i was new here, i did, hopng to generate some interest, and the few threads i started peetered out rather quickly (lack of interest?). i realize this is a carseat forum first, and a automotive safety forum second, but you would think that there would be more categories of safety forums or subforums in addition to the main ones here (i mean, if they have a stroller swap forum, they could have some other peripheral safety forums, such as "keeping your car safe", or "safe driving tips"...that sort of idea).

Sounds good to me! Until there is a forum (hint, hint) could you post "SouthPaw's Tip of the Week" or something?

[scatterbunny]

I think the general concensus is that more sub-forums, the more confusing the board is to navigate. I think the "Car Safety" forum pretty much covers things like safe driving techniques, car safety features, etc.

Try again, is what I say! :) Maybe on a day when there's little traffic on the Carseat forum, so we aren't all so busy helping others and have time to focus on something else.

I KNOW I need to do more to keep my vehicle safe. I need air in my tires for sure; I keep putting it off because Mark just wants to add air without checking the pressure, I want to take it to Les Schwab to check it, but they will only do it free if you bought your tires there. We need to buy a tire pressure gauge!

[amy919]

Southpaw, I'm on board with you. You might like to know that I am almost equally obsessed with the amount of pressure in my tires, when I change my oil, etc as I am about my car seats. I actually am a bit over-obsessive about my tires. I check them about once a week AND daily if it's below freezing! I have both a digital and a regular gauge and I use them both in tandem. How's that for obsessive?

Of course, I was made to be this way. Even after getting my drivers license, my dad would not let me drive until I could change a tire in the dark with only what was available in my car, and change my own oil.

I'd love to see some topics on this!

Amy

[Jeanum]

LOL, Amy your dad sounds just like mine except I had to prove myself capable of doing those things before I could get my license, they were his prerequisites. Good thing, too, since DH is pretty clueless. :rolleyes:

[beeman]

Southpaw, I remember a snow tire thread that you started. I think I even participated. I'll agree. We do need to discuss other safety issues. Trailer towing season is coming up, and like anyone else here who tows, I need to fix a bunch of my lights, change the battery in my brake away system and check the brakes, and instal a brake controller in the old "new to me" one ton. I probably need to upgrade to a higher level liscence so I can pull the full weight of my one tons GVWR with a trailer. And of course check the tread depth and inflation of my tires on my trailer, and the spares for it too. I can't wait to pull it again!

As for changing tires and oil and that stuff, I needed to know how to do it, because my dad simply wouldn't and won't. I could change a tire on my truck, even though the spare and jack are burried in a snowbank in the box :D .

[Pawy]

Remember all Child safety is more than just car seats too..!!
Around the Home
Sun Safety
Pool Safety
Car Safety
Ohh the list goes on :)

[AdventureMom]

but more importantly, if we are to be truly obsessed about our childrens' safety, our obsession should not be so narrowly focused on car seats, since carseats alone are not the be all and end all to a child's safety--they are but one piece of a large puzzle regarding a child's overall automotive safety. there are far broader subjects pertaining to automotive safety that few people here bother to venture into (sadly, for me), such as keeping up with routine safety inspections of their vehicles, knowing they have safe and effective tires inflated to the appropriate pressure (almost 50% of americans are driving on under-inflated or over-inflated tires!!! that is a major safety hazard!), knowing that your lights all work correctly, etc...

Southpaw - I had a question and sent you a PM about car safety. Check your inbox :)

ETA: Ooops! Just saw your reply... Thanks.

[MommyofBoogieBear]

just to put my two cents...i would love to see stuff about car safety...tires...etc... :)

and to be honest with myself...i sometimes need to check myself if I am spending too much time reading threads....(i'm not a tech...nor can i help many people out at this point...i'm still learning like a sponge!) and not enough for example cleaning the house..or putting the kids down first. There can be too much of a good thing.

[MommyofBoogieBear]

must add one thing.....i could think of worse obsessions! :)

[MommyofBoogieBear]

and yet ONE MORE thing!!!! because of this board....I will hope to have a correct install in my car. also, we have gotten a second car so that we are not taking out the car seats every other day (my DH is always giving people rides and needs to take them out)....and ........I am going to cloth diapers because of this board as well. anyway. i am thankful.

[Amaris]

I think this board is a great place, and it would be nice to see a few more threads on overall car safety. About the only thing I know is what my tire pressure needs to be and I send DH out to check it once a week. We are in NY and have to get the cars inspected once a year. Both of ours have been done recently so I'm certain that most of the stuff like brakes, belts, and tires are good and that all of the lights work. I'm really not sure what else needs to be done though! I could change a tire if I had to but beyond that forget it!