Friday, August 17, 2012

What Is UP? Needing To Live More Mindfully


I do not know where to start with this. I do not want to offend, and I do not want to treat lightly a rather grave subject. I also know full well that I am not a perfect parent. Just ask my kids! You will get the mostly honest truth with perhaps slight exaggeration as to the degree of my cruelty and incompetence. 

So, the trouble? The U.S. government is launching a new awareness campaign through the Departments of Transportation and Health and Human Services called, "Where's Baby? Look before you Lock." The initiative is intended to keep kids safe and make parents aware of the danger of leaving kids in a hot car. I honestly think that most parents are aware of the danger, but I also think the majority of the 23 child deaths this year, due to being left in hot cars, were accidental. This campaign is targeted at preventing those accidental deaths. 

Again, I do not want to make light of this. Twenty-three children gone is heartbreaking. No one would wish this on anyone, and I honestly hope it never happens to another family. I first became aware of this new campaign a few weeks ago when I saw an app designed to remind parents that they have a child in the back seat. I was a little annoyed because I assume that if you can remember to bring your phone with you from the car, you should be able to remember your child. On the other hand, if it prevents the senseless death of a baby, then please, get the app. 

I am not necessarily against this ad campaign either. (Although it is not really a governmental issue, but that is a post for another day.) People need to be aware of potential danger, although, as I have said, I think we all know it is dangerous, but we are so harried and hurried, that we are not living with our brains turned on or tuned in. The part that I think I am annoyed or irritated or cross with is the statement that the governmental agencies have released. I don't even know what I think. I am confused. And saddened and irritated I guess. They stated that they would like to involve the "departments of Head Start and also day care units across the country to distribute safety tips -- like when you leave your car, make sure you have something important in the backseat like your keys, cellphone or purse so you can't forget them or your child."

Read that carefully. Put something IMPORTANT, like your cell phone, in the backseat so that you do not forget your child. I am sorry if this offends, but the child IS the important thing that you put in the backseat. 

Now, I know myself well enough to know that if I continue discussing this, that it will escalate into a full blown rant, therefore, I will rest my case here. Confused and sad. I think there is a cure for this tragedy and a way to prevent it from happening again, but I do not think that it lies in governmental action, or cell phone apps. Any ideas?

Quote of the Day: "Slow down and enjoy life.  It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why." Eddie Cantor actor, comedian 

9 comments:

  1. I agree with you!! I wish I had an answer...but I do not. It is just a sad...sick world. When a phone is more important than a child!

    Thanks for sharing...so I can say...I agree with you!

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  2. This was great. Completely agree. How can a person be so oblivious that they forget their own child.

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  3. Well, and 23 deaths is nothing compared to our rising infant mortality rate due to early inductions and unnecessary c-sections-why aren't they intervening there??! And that because it's important and needs to be distributed quickly they're reaching out to daycares and head start...because that's where all the children are now. We keep thinking we may just want to move to Canada...or Europe. IDK, our country needs help-but where do you start?!!?

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    1. I think you are on the right track. This is a symptom of a culture and lifestyle that needs adjusting...

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  4. You've nailed it. Mindfulness, slowing down, being aware of the important things (and I'm NOT talking about car keys or cell phones) is something I rant about regularly. I hadn't heard about the 23 infant deaths in the US. The saddest thing is that life has become so full of distractions that we can forget the really IMPORTANT stuff. If an app is what it takes... heavy sigh.

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  5. I rant with you but an app is not the problem solver. There is no app to replace brains and the self-centered nature that now rules the world. I'm going to take it even further. Put the parent in jail who forgets their child. There I said it.But the child is dead and has no one to be angry for them anymore. So I will

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  6. Well said, NatureGirl. I can't believe I'm admitting this on a public forum, but I have forgotten my baby in the back seat. Once. And it was HOT outside. As soon as I realized what I'd done, I ran out of the store, feeling like my legs couldn't possibly carry me fast enough, crying the entire way. I have 5 children, I am a responsible and loving parent, but I'm not perfect and I made a giant mistake.

    It's sad that our way of life has changed so dramatically that we can easily find ourselves rushed and sidetracked, with so many things overloading our mind that we can easily forget the most precious thing in our life and that our very most important job is that of parent.

    That being said, I agree, the government needs to spend our money in a different way. Perhaps a non-profit organization can be started that will raise awareness about this. Like they do with the campaign about leaving your dog in the car. But I also think that most people who leave their children in the car didn't forget them, they were just too lazy to take them inside. And those people should be locked up.

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    1. Thank you for your candidness. That is exactly why I was trying so hard to be sensitive about this subject. I do not think it is the neglectful, uncaring parent who experiences this. It is the over tired, over hurried parent. This is but a symptom of needing to slow down, and live our lives peacefully and not frantically. Thank you for sharing.

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