Once again, rolling in the apparent mobile therapeutic device known as my minivan, there's just something about having your kids strapped in and unable to move that's so comforting.
I've made a pledge, not to Oprah, but with MyDaph, that we'll not use our phones in the car. I've never been a fan of texting while the car was in motion. I'm not going to lie and say I've never done it before either. I don't care what you tell yourself though, your kids see you dialing, phoning, texting and checking your Facebook on your phone...while driving, or at a light, or whatever you're convincing your self to validate. They learn to do what you do. They'll do it if you do it. So, MyDaph and I made a pledge to each other (she had to make one at work: a cell phone service company) that we'd put our phones down.
I took it another step further, and pledged I wouldn't talk on the phone either. A few months ago I watched a guy in a minivan turn a corner while on the phone. With his natural blindspot tacked on with the "I'm on my phone" blindspot, he almost ran over three kids because the corner he was turning was an elementary school. One of the kids jumped out in the street. A teacher grabbed and pulled him back. Then she tapped the guys car. He had no idea. Absolutely no idea. It was a horrific look in the mirror at what could have been.
Between that and the fact that my kids talk to me when we're in the car. I mean, they really talk to me. I'm tired of telling them to be quiet so mommy can talk on the phone. So, I have a no phone policy - definitely no texting policy.
And I love it. Even when I'm driving to work all by myself, I've revised my playlist to belt out some tunes. Did you know that if I turn the volume up just loud enough, I sound just like Joss Stone? Who knew. Now I do.
The kids have really appreciated my new policy and are really opening up even more. So, Lucy and I were driving down the road the other day and she's telling me early she's been waking up. (She really hasn't been, but I humored her.)
Lucy: "I've been waking up at like 6a.m., Mom." (Sure you have, Lucy. Sure you have.) "Tomorrow, when I wake up, can I fix my own breakfast?"
Me: "Sure you can. What have you been doing when you wake up so early?"
Lucy: "I read and then I watch some movies." (Whatever little girl.)
Me: "Oh. Okay. Well, you know what I do when I wake up early? I like to say a little prayer and give thanks for all the good things in my life."
Lucy: "Oh Mom! I forgot to tell you, I did that and it worked! I DID IT!"
Me: "Really? What?"
Lucy: "Today, it was recess time. And Mrs. Teacher sent Herman to go see if we had inside or outside recess. And since it's been sooooo long since we've had outside recess, I prayed, 'Please God, let us have outdoor recess because it's really been a long time and it's nice out today. Please, please God.' And then Herman came back and said we were going outside! It worked! I did it!"
Me: "That's great, baby. But did you do that, or did God?"
Lucy: "Well, we BOTH did."
This morning I woke up and made breakfast. And then I raised up a salut of coffee to God and thanked Him for all the stuff we BOTH did, and then for my family, the no phone use policy in the car, and especially for that whole outdoor recess gig. Nice work.
That's how I roll.
This morning I prayed to whomever would listen to please fix the flat tire that I didn't notice until someone honked and yelled to me because I was too busy talking on the phone. Ohh, and while I was waiting for my prayer to be answered by this nice guy who was on his way to work, my husband called to tell me that H was sick so I needed to come home from work.... ahhhh!!!
I have to tell you have broken the rules but I am still commited. I am using the phone for cell calls some but I have cut down a lot. Keep up the great work girlfriend!