luckyclov
New member
When you know better, you do better. I see this said a lot around here and I think it's perfect...very precise.
I know I've certainly made mistakes throughout my 8 years of child restraint use. From turning my firstborn forward-facing at 20 lbs and not 20 lbs AND 1 year (nevermind the fact that even that would have been too soon, in my *now* opinion), to too loose/wrong slot harnesses, non-secure mirrors, etc... But when I was either made aware of by someone else or found out on my own, my misuse, I was grateful and eager to correct it...and learn more.
But what I do not understand are those people out there who just seem not to care...who get pissy when you (tactfully - and genuinely concerned) try to give them a head's up. There's no shame in being "innocently unware" (although, I admit, I don't think it's particulary difficult to read a manual). The shame comes when you refuse to make a change that could potentially make a significant difference in the event of an accident. They know, but have no desire to do better.
But then you have those who want to know and WANT to do better. I was getting my DS out of his car seat the other day at Target (minivan slider), just as another woman, next to me, was loading her toddler ( 2-ish years old) daughter. She asked me what the deal was with my RF tether (MA70). I told her it was optional, only allowed by 2 manufacturers, and that I would be comfortable with or without it, as long as we were RF'ing, but that I did like the option. It lead to a conversation about her car seat and it's install...which eventually lead to the realization that her FF Alpha Omega had been expired since 2008 (she didn't know restraints expired). She went back into Target and bought a MyRide...(I had never dealt with a MR in person before - I really like it!)...*RF*! She was really, really thankful...and it was a happy ending!
Sigh.
I know I've certainly made mistakes throughout my 8 years of child restraint use. From turning my firstborn forward-facing at 20 lbs and not 20 lbs AND 1 year (nevermind the fact that even that would have been too soon, in my *now* opinion), to too loose/wrong slot harnesses, non-secure mirrors, etc... But when I was either made aware of by someone else or found out on my own, my misuse, I was grateful and eager to correct it...and learn more.
But what I do not understand are those people out there who just seem not to care...who get pissy when you (tactfully - and genuinely concerned) try to give them a head's up. There's no shame in being "innocently unware" (although, I admit, I don't think it's particulary difficult to read a manual). The shame comes when you refuse to make a change that could potentially make a significant difference in the event of an accident. They know, but have no desire to do better.
But then you have those who want to know and WANT to do better. I was getting my DS out of his car seat the other day at Target (minivan slider), just as another woman, next to me, was loading her toddler ( 2-ish years old) daughter. She asked me what the deal was with my RF tether (MA70). I told her it was optional, only allowed by 2 manufacturers, and that I would be comfortable with or without it, as long as we were RF'ing, but that I did like the option. It lead to a conversation about her car seat and it's install...which eventually lead to the realization that her FF Alpha Omega had been expired since 2008 (she didn't know restraints expired). She went back into Target and bought a MyRide...(I had never dealt with a MR in person before - I really like it!)...*RF*! She was really, really thankful...and it was a happy ending!
Sigh.
Last edited: