We have all seen them. The heart-wrenching educational service announcements (ESA) that involve a teenager carelessly texting while driving that does not make it home to their family. A simple message that couldn’t wait, that changes the lives of many people, forever.
What if that person texting was a mom? And what if she was sporting a bumper sticker on the back of her car (under her daughter’s cheer decal) that said:
Stay Alive… Don’t Text And Drive!
My family experienced “that mom” as we were traveling home from a fun-filled day of fall activities. All I will say is, it was a close call, and we were all petrified! I will be forever grateful that my husbands quick reflexes prevented us from being one of the families in the ESA that nobody wants to be a part of. How dare she put my family at risk? Especially when she was promoting such a powerful statement! I cannot even begin to tell you all of the emotions that raced through my mind.
To make matters worse, afterwards she took it upon herself to drive up beside our car and smile, as if we were friends traveling beside one another on an afternoon joyride. I wanted to jump through my window and slap that smile off of her face – right after I ripped off of the bumper sticker that had no business being on her car in the first place. Nobody puts my family’s life in jeopardy!
I have anxiety about many things regarding my children and the unsafe, jilted world they will have to grow up in. Now, all of a sudden, them getting their drivers license is on that list (even though they are not even in Kindergarten yet!). Deep Breath!
I see people (of all ages) texting while driving, and wonder what in the world could be so important? I get really fired up about this, because that person is putting the lives of everyone on the road in danger. 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting & driving. Yikes! One thought that immediately crossed my mind, is that her child was in the car with her — what a terrible example of a mom. She should be ashamed of herself!
It is important for parents to be role models for their children in any situation, big or small. A simple piece of advice to everyone (including that mom in the PT Cruiser). We should all practice what we promote… or stick on our car!
