A Note About Booster Seats Past Age 4

Note: I originally wrote this on 01/21/09. It's still as important today as it was then, so I'm sharing it here as well.

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I know our law is age 8 and/or 80#.  Many people disregard using them past the age of 4.  Crab and Yell aren't exactly tiny, but they're not in the 50th percentile for their age either.

Today we were in an accident.  A guy ran a red light and I plowed into his drivers' side rear door.  The guy on the other side of the light plowed into his passenger side rear quarter panel.

At age 10 1/2, usually to their chagrin, Crab and Yell were in booster seats -- they are 4' 1/2", 63# and 4'4", 61#.  Neither one is close enough to 80# to be out of a booster.

Do they hate them?  Yes.
Were they kept from injury by the elevation provided?  Yes.
Were they thankful they didn't get a cut on their neck (like a classmate of theirs did) from the seatbelt?  Yes.
Were they very happy they were in boosters AFTER the wreck?  Yes.

My arms and back ache and my bumper is a mess, but we're all okay.

Please, keep your kids in boosters as long as possible.

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Edited to add a comment I fully appreciate:

Ohio passed a booster seat law last year, and now (one year later) a fine goes into effect if a child who should be in a booster is not in one. They had a news story on TV about it the other day. A mom whose son has been out of a car seat since age 4 was quoted as saying something along the lines of, "It's so inconvenient." Hmmmm. So would having to go to the hospital every day to visit your brain damaged child if he were in a really bad accident.

Par-ty!

Hello world!  Let's get this party started!  Happy birthday, Shayla... you are now officially a 12-year-old! Yay!!! Updates:  Grandparents day has come already, thanks for everything Grammy and Papa!  Shayla turned 12!  I need to sleep!  Mom went to the ER with dad while Grammy stayed over night because Mom felt so awful. Feel better, Mom!
I need to leave and perhaps update you guys later! :p :)

Saturday morning wake up call

So this weekend has been a little off.

Sapper (a.k.a. dh) went on a Cub Scout overnight on Friday.  Apparently all the boys involved had fun, but not all spent the night in tents on the football field.  Sapper & Lambo managed the overnight and we now have a half-dry tent taking up space in our garage - yay us!  Sapper also surprised me by taking Lambo out for breakfast and a haircut.  So cute!  Lambo got a "25-minute flat top".  He was very pleased Columbus noticed when she got to our house.

Did I mention how the chix and I spent our eve Friday?  Oh yeah, we had a guest for an overnight.  The guest was darling.  Sweet.  Angelic.  Polite.  Very welcome to return!  The chix?  Hmmmmm, since they'll be reading this I'll edit my true opinion thoughts feelings.

Dear Chicklets,

I love you.

You are capable of being loving, considerate, sweet girls.

You are my children and entitled to have friends over when you are able to behave.

Awakening your mother at 0700 on a Saturday morning, after having been awake past midnight, by shrieking over who stole what from whom is NOT good behavior.  Continuing the harangue past 0730 when said mother is attempting to recover from a long week at a less than exciting job is also NOT an example of good behavior.

Additionally, remembering your manners (i.e. please, thank you, responses when questions are asked by a parent) is KEY to receiving benefits in our household.  And what to say about the empty ice cream carton on the kitchen counter?

Ahem.  I digress.

Please straighten up the play room.  Put away your blankets, Wii remotes, DVDs, markers, papers, and assorted 'girl paraphernalia.'

And remember, a well-rested mom is a much more pleasant mom.

Sincerely, 

Mom (who will assign additional chores if so much as one word of back-talk is received over the designation of the chores listed above)

p.s.  Enjoy the bacon!

p.p.s. If you can't find me, I'm in the backyard pulling weeds. And if you choose to join in that fun in an enthusiastic, hardworking manner, you *will* earn cold hard cash. I promise.