I couple weeks ago, I turned the TV on and Oprah just happen to be on. She and her panel of experts were discussing safe driving. She was pairing with some company (I can’t remember who) to encourage people to put down cell phones and stop texting and driving.
They were talking about how dangerous and distracting it is. People are taking their eyes off the road for multiple minutes at a time and getting in these horrible car accidents. I am all for safety so I decided to try and comply to this.
But I think that this needs to be taken a step further because I have to admit there is something, actually four somethings, that are way more distracting in my car than my cell phone.
That’s right, its my children.
If its not screaming and crying then its fighting or just their incessant talking which distracts me while I am driving. I ask you, how is a person suppose to concentrate on the road when Jake is crying in the way back of the van because Quinn is touching him and Claire and Hayden are having a fight about ignoring each other.
You know, Hayden is upset because Claire is talking to him so I tell him to just ignore her which he does by doing saying this, “I am ignoring you, Claire.”
To which she responds, “No. You not ignore me, Hiyen!”
“Yes, I am. I am ignoring you, Claire.”
“No. You not ignore me, Hiyen.”
And back and forth on and on it goes. How is a person suppose to concentrate with that going on?
But never fear, I have come up with a solution. And no, its not yelling at them until my throat hurts because that doesn’t work and really only gets you weird looks from people in the car next to you.
I think that car seat makers need to make car seat come with sound proof, plexiglass boxes. When you strapped a kid into their seat, you would just lower this box down around them and the problem would be solved. They could be as loud as they wanted and no one would be able to hear them and it would solve the whole, ‘someone is touching me’ problem.
It is beautiful.
With these child safety boxes installed, driving the car would be so much less distracting. In fact, I am pretty sure that I could text and drive safely.
You should patent that!
So funny.
Oldest and I watched the repeat of the Oprah that showed the people who died because of cell phone and texting distraction. Usually I turn that stuff off, 7 might be a little young, but he wanted to watch. It was good for both of us. Now he understands more about what I’m (you’re) talking about.
LOVE your idea. Add cup holders and snack catcher accessories, and you’re on your way to making millions girl.
(miss you – be back soon
.-= em´s last blog ..I give up. =-.
That is hilarious. And with these boxes that will keep out their loudness, it will also prevent older brother from hitting baby brother, or throwing a bottle of water on him! Brilliant! Yes, children are HUGE distractions when driving, that’s for sure.
I always think that children are way more dangerous than anything else.
I am all for that!
Um, I’m pretty sure you have a good idea. I just PRAISE THE LORD for the carseats that keep them strapped in at least & not running wild in the car.
.-= Jen-blessedmomto8´s last blog ..My new BLING & other stuff… =-.
I do find myself asking for the yelling to stop fairly often. Since we can’t wear sound proof headphones while driving we obviously need to contain the noise coming from the noise makers and a sound proof box sounds like a good start.
.-= Catherine @ Evolving Mommy´s last blog ..Thin Wheat Crackers =-.
Absolutely. There is not one single moment of quiet in our car traveling anywhere with our two daughters. A regular complaint between the two of them is that the other twin is not sharing. Usually the one wants the toy the other one is playing with and no one wants to share with the other one. That and some random screaming just create an ambiance while traveling.
You add the snack-crumb catcher feature and you’re displacing Bill Gates on the Forbes list. Seriously.
.-= Leiah´s last blog ..All About MEme Monday =-.
Thats the best Idea I heard all week. I’ll take 2!
.-= Jenni´s last blog ..Yup. She’s my girl. =-.
LOL Since, it is only Monday, I don’t know how to take this? I am thinking you mean it as a good thing.
I would buy that!! My two-year-old doesn’t understand that I can’t look at her, look at what she is showing me, or hand her something she has chunked to the back of the van while I am driving. It causes loud screaming matches because she thinks I am ignoring her… sometimes I am. Then her brother gets annoyed because she is screaming and can’t hear his mp3 player, so he starts screaming too. Well.. you know how it is…
You need one for when you’re on the phone too!
Oh my gosh, that’s the best idea that I’ve heard in a long time. I’d like one for every seat in the car. It’s genius!
.-= Tina @ Ride On Toys´s last blog ..The Power Wheels Harley Davidson Rocks! =-.
I was just thinking that the other day. Granted, my B is not yelling or crying, or fighting with siblings… but see, she loves to hold my hand while we drive. So I have to put my hand back there, make googly eyes at her in the mirror, and sing to her… while driving.
Yeah, I should probably let her tough it out.
.-= erica´s last blog ..My Bon Jovi Story: Part 2 =-.
Stuff a glove and give it to her to hold. But don’t tell her its your hand, we don’t want to freak her out too much.
Kids are definitely waaay more distracting than cell phones or texting. Ask any mom struggling to reach behind her and jam a pacifier in the mouth of a screaming baby in a REAR FACING car seat! If there is some crisis going on in the backseat, I’m usually swerving all over the road.
.-= Jaci @ Ravings of a Mad Housewife´s last blog ..Pregnancy Week 35 – Do They Always Look Like That? =-.
When Hayden was a baby, I used to feed him a bottle in a rear facing car seat while driving. Yeah, I am that talented.
I’ve thought of that before too…kind of like a limousine but a mom-sine!
.-= Emily´s last blog ..PSF and the Euro =-.
My only question is if these plexiglass covers will come in larger sizes for children over the age of 5? If so, I would like to order 2. Pronto!
.-= Sunday Stilwell´s last blog ..Autism didn’t cause my divorce. Part 1 =-.
If I do make these things, they are going to be big enough to put over teenagers and possibly annoying husbands as well.
I need some of those.
My kids can be so incredibly loud. Tommy isn’t so bad but Natalie…sheesh…if she drops a toy back there she’s all, “I DROPPED MY TOY! HELP! I DROPPED MY TOY!” and I’m all, “Hon, Mommy is driving,” and she doesn’t care because she turns purple and screams, “HELP! I DROPPED MY TOY!” Ugh.
.-= Amber´s last blog ..The Mom Who Reads Books About People With No Heads =-.
LOL! Fabulous idea!
.-= Magically Ordinary´s last blog ..Real Life is about to Resume! =-.
I hear ya(no pun intended) but just wait til there are multiple cell phones, playing different songs, and the songs are being sung. While this is happening someone is yelling at someone to turn their music down or to stop singing. The noise is different, but the distraction is the same. I think a divider like in the limos would be good–but they can’t be dark because you need to be able to see them. A one way intercom system so you can scare them or tell them to shut…to be quiet please.
.-= Lourie´s last blog ..We Interrupt… =-.
You have a very valid point! One that Oprah would have never thought of, since (a) she probably hasn’t had to drive herself anywhere in decades and (b) definitely hasn’t driven herself anywhere with a child. Unless you count Gail.
Now THAT is a beautiful idea! (the plexiglass car seat thingie) And it needs to have a barf bag built into it for the kiddies prone to car sickness. My 3 kids are all teens now, but when they were in elementary school and younger we had a minivan and the license plate was MY3QTZ (3 cuties – get it?) I used to wonder what people thought when they looked at the plate….then looked up and into the rear window at the absolute chaos going on inside the van. Never mind if they could HEAR it too.
Believe it or not, sometimes I miss those days.
.-= lori´s last blog ..Honey don’t like Honey-Dos =-.
what are the chances they could make one of those so I could put it on during my next date?
Um, if you want to put your date in a plexiglass box then maybe you shouldn’t be on a date with that person. I am just sayin’
I think minivans should come with an optional soundproof plexiglass wall, like taxicabs. That way the kids can scream, holler, throw things, and generally cause mayhem and your driving won’t be affected.
.-= Carabee´s last blog ..Buddy, Your Days Are Numbered =-.
You are so right! Where does Oprah stand on this issue? Hmmm?
.-= Connie @ Young and Relentless´s last blog ..A Poor Man’s Lelli Kelly Shoes =-.
OMG…If I’d had food or water in my mouth, I’d have spit it out after reading your last line! priceless!!
.-= Barbara Manatee´s last blog ..Bunny Hop =-.
I will take them!! Plexiglass quiet? I love it!
.-= sara@domesticallychallenged´s last blog ..Me and My Big Mouth =-.
LOL! Hmmm…but what would you make for teenagers???? I can’t tell you how many times I have considered driving off the bridge on a long drive when they start arguing about God knows what…. ugh
.-= debi9kids´s last blog ..Welcome to Schuylkill County, PA! =-.
Ha ha, funny post. Over here it is an offense to use anything but a hands-free phone, so texting is certainly very bad!
I often wondered when I would get to use one of the skills I learned in my driving lessons: The Emergency Stop.
Well, now that I have children of Fighting Age, I use it all the time. Well, actually I have to use it sparingly or it loses its potency, I only do it in quiet areas and I always check the mirrors to be certain that there’s nobody behind me. The kids know that it indicates we’ve arrived at The Last Straw, and when I do an Emergency Stop, somebody is in Big Trouble.
Behaviour is always so much better after that.
I think I just used too many capitals.
Amen!! I’d get a few of those boxes.
I’ve always said I could use one of those windows they have in limos. Just roll that sucker up & I’d be oblivious to the mayhem behind me
My husband and I always imagine a plexi-glass divider, like in a limo that we can raise and lower. But for immediate relief, I’ve pulled over the car when it gets out of control and just sit there. I don’t say anything. Eventually they notice that we are not moving and they get quiet. I calmly turn (after counting to 10 like a hundred times!) and say, “We will continue to stay nice and close to each other crammed in this car…sitting and enjoying one another’s company as long as it takes for the arguing to finish.” They usually shut up right quick!
.-= LoveFeast Table´s last blog ..Gearing Up For Avocado Pound Cake =-.
Does the plexiglass box have air holes so the kids can breathe? Either way, it’s a good idea, just checking….
.-= cristin´s last blog ..At Least 7 Random Things Mostly About A Boy About To Turn 7. =-.
Air holes!? What’s that for?
Do you think they could make one to use outside of the car? Or a portable one that my kids could walk around in? Wouldn’t that be lovely.
LOL at the last line re texting and driving safely. HA!
.-= Megan´s last blog ..A Lovely Spring Afternoon =-.
My kids are way more distracting then my phone for sure! We have silent car some days and the first one to talk has to take out the trash! New follower here. Glad I found you! You are a funny chick!
I like that. Totally going to have to remember that one for when they get old because right now, I think that them taking out the trash would make more work for me.
Oh girl, you are TOTALLY on to something here. Would this also prevent me from having to hand them sh*t all the time because that drives me nuts. I actually had no idea my arm could go in those directions until I had kids…
Sheer genius. I bow to your intellectual superiority.
.-= Otter´s last blog ..Toddler and Monkey Stew =-.
Now that is a good idea!!! Love it.
.-= Emmy´s last blog ..Ten Things =-.
My husband and I are always joking that we need one of those soundproof barriers they have in limos … maybe they should be installed on all cars as a safety feature!
.-= Jenners´s last blog ..Post-It Note Tuesday: Concerts I’ve Attended =-.
Ooh yeah, very “Get Smart” and the cone of silence! Superb. Then I’d never get a tennis ball thrown at me and have it roll underneath the brake pedal again.