Re: Child Safety amd experiences
Although new to TBN, I couldn't fail to respond to posts on this thread -- I have been reading the various forums, long in advance of acquiring my 32 hp or so tractor. Part of my motivation is so I can enjoy the tractor experience safely. In my clinical practice, I freely admit to my patients that I don't have all the answers as a psychologist; hence, my willingness to seek them out on TBN and other places as I try to learn more about tractors.
All that considered, we all survive almost in spite of ourselves or our parents sometimes; and, we need to keep that in mind. No doubt many besides me rode in the back window of the car as kids, perhaps to escape the blue smoke cloud Dad was emitting or just so we didn't have to ride the "hump." So, most of us had good parents -- like someone said, however, we may have been lucky to survive childhood.
One thing I am a bit familiar with is cognitive development. I have a brilliant 7 year old daughter who will not be driving either of my tractors for several years. Her skills on machinery (achievement) will be enhanced by her aptitude and by experience reflecting her developmental age. In brief, a child does NOT have the capacity to make judgments and decisions about what is safe and what is not at the same level as an adult, regardless of exposure at a young age. I agree wholeheartedly with cowboydoc about the values gleaned from living next to the land. It develops a sense of responsibility, work ethic and does build strong family ties and values and, in my view, a spiritual orientation. Nevertheless, kids along with adults make lots of bad decisions --even with exposure --I read enough on TBN to know that. And, It doesn't matter how close we are to them when they roll the tractor -- we can simply get there faster to view the injuries.
We can share all the great things about rural life without putting our kids at risk. We have always made the smart and right decision for them - AS LONG AS THEY DON'T GET HURT. Once they do, then we've made a bad choice in allowing them to do something they probably shouldn't have been doing. Then, we live with the pain for the rest of our lives. Trust me, I deal with this regularly with clients grieving and regretting their decisions. Read the stats on kids and 4 wheelers, tractors, etc. Is it worth it?
People are all unique. I work with drinkers who can down a case of beer at a sitting and stand up and walk easily to their car and drive away ( I'd be in a coma). According to them, they are not impaired, but are they? By definition, judgment is impaired at that level. Kids hopefully are not allowed to drink, but sans alcohol, they still don't think like a rational, mature adult.
One personal anecdote: I have a veterinarian brother-in-law who had a younger brother my youngest sister's age. All in their family helped with chores, fed animals, rode and trained horses, etc. At 11, this younger brother was allowed to mow the ditches on a utility tractor. He would have been 42 this year, same age as my sister -- the tractor rolled and killed him. To paraphrase A.E. Housman, he was a "lad who died in his glory and never grew old."
Sorry about the length guys; call me a whimp, but there are some risks I just won't take. Thought I'd balance the thread.
Bill
