Krisula Moyer

We had a real problem getting my youngest to agree to use seatbelts and car
seats when she was little. As soon as she could (maybe 24 mo?) she would
escape from the restraint every time. Usually when we were on the highway.
Eventually she was old enough to understand our reasons behind using them
and she often complied just because she knew it would make me happy but
there was a long period when she simply refused. I tried everything I could
think of plus all the ideas from unschoolers I knew - it was very
frustrating. One thing that an unschooling Dad said that made sense was."
She has the right to refuse to wear them but I have the right to refuse to
drive the car with an unbelted passenger. It isn't safe, it's against the
law and I won't risk it." This approach, in the end was very effective but
unbelievably inconvenient for me and unfair to big brother and sis who
didn't wish to be house bound for months at a time. Sometimes the choice
was, you can come with us if you stay belted but if not you can stay here
with dad or go visit a neighbor while we go out. Sometimes I was able to
arrange rides for the other two. Sometimes we just went anyway and crossed
our fingers.
FWIW, Anika is the one who still always gets carsick on long trips
and who hated car rides even as an infant.

Krisula