Unspeakable tragedy

[Ozykioti]

[/QUOTE]My 1.5 year old now runs after my tractor for a ride........I'm stuck........do give her a ride, she loves it, or do I not but than I have too look out for her.[/QUOTE]

Geez yelbike, since you asked I wouldn't give her a ride you don't want her to associate the tractor with fun (even though it is for us ) she will always be trying to have a ride. And I wouldn't feel bad about yelling at your 7yr old, just think how bad you'd feel if you didn't and the worst happens.
Keep em safe

[NC tractor driver]

My 1.5 year old now runs after my tractor for a ride........I'm stuck........do give her a ride, she loves it, or do I not but than I have too look out for her.

Geez yelbike, since you asked I wouldn't give her a ride you don't want her to associate the tractor with fun (even though it is for us ) she will always be trying to have a ride. And I wouldn't feel bad about yelling at your 7yr old, just think how bad you'd feel if you didn't and the worst happens.
Keep em safe[/QUOTE]

Many times being a parent is not a popularity contest. You have to make sure your children learn what to do and what not to do. Some situations warrant not worrying about their self esteem. There are lots of things out there than can hurt a child. Streets, cars, tractors, firearms, tools, etc that we as adults know about and respect, but kids have no concept of the danger.

So, treat your kids with kindness, let them know you love them, but don't be afraid to make sure they understand the dangers.

[CompactTractorFan]

So sad..............................this should have never happened..................

[JDgreen227]

Wow, how horrible! I know that family is just grieving their hearts out now. To make it worse, not only was the father experienced with that machine, he was doing a job at a neighbors yard! That involves the neighbors family as well, so you know that they are having heartache over it too.

Just so sad, and it could have totally been avoided. I say that because I am a firm believer that children should not even be around heavy or power equipment when it is being operated, this includes riding them on tractor for a little bit of fun with dad or grandpa, but I know this topic has been discussed numerous times in this forum so I'll say no more about the subject.

I have a favorite saying: "Accidents don't just happen, they are CAUSED..."

Yes, the father should have known better than to let a child anywhere near the machine, it takes only one moment of carelessness or inattention for something like this to happen. My neighbor is a well educated and very intelligent man, but I always worry when I see him mowing his yard with his small lawn tractor with his five year old son on his lap. It's not my place to say anything, so I don't....no doubt he is super careful BUT...I still worry.

[ericher69]

Nowhere in the article does it say the father let the child help...

His back was turned and then...

Having an 18 month old son that imitates what dad does and being very quick at this age I cannot imagine how much quicker and willing to help/imitate he will be at 6yrs!

I for one had a scary incident with a 8" 25hp hydraulic feed chipper.

I was helping a friend clear his lot (first time around a chipper) but not around equipment.

Everything was going well until we started hurrying before it got dark. By this point we had been at it for 10hrs in 80+ degree weather and where all tired.

I fed a branch with a fork in it to the chipper; as I went to walk away I got caught in the wye before I could clear. I fell towards the chipper and luck would have it my arms hit the panic bar instead of the chipper opening.

I was done for the day after this and took the time to thank God as I almost met him that day!

If I ever use a chipper again I WILL have an attendant by the machine at all times so that the can turn off the machine if needed.

[vozzy16]

sad story thathe'll live with rest of his life. even if he had told him to stay away the kid would be a kid and think it wasn't him his dad was warning about. i remember my dad telling me never turn a old hand crank tractor all the way around when starting. i seen men do it on old cars i could do it i thought. well to say it started and threw that crank back around and hit me square was a leson i learned the hard way. dad could only laugh and sat "I TOLD YOU SO" i'll never do it again and i'm 51 now ...lol

[RoyJackson]

I read this thread several times...

I can't imagine how the father must have felt immediately after the accident.
Not much more anyone can say, really...a terrible, terrible thing!

[ray66v]

Nowhere in the article does it say the father let the child help...

Early reports gave the impression the child could have been feeding the machine, because they said, "He was helping his father." And we did know the child ended up in the machine.

The reports now say that his boys were helping collect branches, and suggest the father who was feeding the machine, left his post to get more branches, when the child stuck a branch into the machine.

I can see how that could have happened, but it doesn't make this much easier to think about.

[gaproperty]

Well the fact that the boy was with his dad tells me the father and son had a loving relationship therefore I can only assume the dad was a good one but trying to get some work done and a few short seconds the most terrible thing happened.

[gaproperty]

Oops hit send by mistake on previous message. I would also like to say we all took our kids to the mall and in a moments notice they disappeared out of sight evan for a brief moment in time. That is how fast this can happen. My heart goes out to the parents because to the day they die they will never forgive themselves or forget the horror. Rip little helper!