I witnessed foolishness today

[super55]

My question is everybody here is so fast to pass judgement because of what they see and probably don't know the whole circumstance of the situation but just immediately conclude that these people are bad parents.

So whats the solution? Obvious one is don't let kids around machinery. What if this is the only parent around and the work has to get done. Does this parent throw a movie on the idiot box and let there 3 year old go unsupervised until the chore is done. Do they keep them in yard while they work and risk the possibility of them running up to the mower/tractor before they can disengage the PTO or not see them and possibly run them over. For what day care/sitter if that option is even available they could probably have the chore hired that is if they can even afford it.

I'm a parent of a 3 year old and I and let him ride with me occasionally on the mower/tractor. Personally I would rather have direct hands on control over my son than leaving him unsupervised with no eyes on or trying to tell him to stop over the noise of an engine. He has fun and I feel safer. I've had my share of people give me nasty looks but last time I checked I haven't seen Health and Human Services offer free lawn mowing for single parents or families where both parents have to work.

 

[RandyT]

Super55, that is a fine example of what people are up against. Either you have the supervised kid on the mower, in a dangerous situation, or you have a unsupervised kid in a potentially dangerous situation. There is really no correct answer to how to handle different situations.

having a new born or toddler on a tractor because daddy thinks it is fun, is wrong. Having a 4-8 year old on a piece of machinery in a controlled environment maybe. The thing is, if you want to teach your son, daughter how to operate something the line will get crossed sometime, and hope things go correctly.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

This thread wasn't started about farming, or raising our kids, or about teaching them to work and become responsible adults! The original concern was about giving rides to those who aren't operating from the seat.

We don't protect our kids by sheer force of will or self-righteousness, we do it by preventing unsafe situations, and by teaching them to recognize and avoid them. IMO, toting a toddler on a zero turn or CUT isn't good role-modeling for anyone, either. 2cents: more.)

btw: It'd be d__ hard for a loved one to be bounced off of a machine they're not riding on as a passenger. I say, if you're not teaching someone to operate, let them watch from a safe distance and observe your moves. Teach them to respect the power/risks, then put 'em in the seat when they can reach the controls and are ready to learn by doing.

Great points. For the past 16 years I have made a lot of extra steps because the kids were learning by watching me .

 

[rider0]

My friend Mark died of a heart attack while on a riding mower.
Tony collapsed from heat stroke while on a riding mower.
Granted, these were 'old men' in their 40's and neither was holding a child at the time. (whew!)

Attitudes:
Accidents happen to others.
I've never had a mishap when mowing. So what if I'm holding a ____ when I'm out there.
A child who can operate a tractor by the age of ten will grow up to be a fine citizen who will never be a victim of a farming accident.

Risks:
MYOB! If anything happens, I'll take responsibility.
My daughter trusts me with the grandson.
Just this one time ...
Long-shot odds are for lotto players.

We're adults.__ We know the odds.__ The call was important and couldn't wait.__ So far, so good.__ Stuff happens.

"You go ahead."

Hey, no prob. There's an excuse for that.
(Flame suit on.)

Wow. Good thing they didn't have a heart attack or stroke while doing something actually dangerous- like piloting an automobile at 70mph down a road full of innocents.

I mean those lawn mowers are almost impossible to stop from 4mph- likely to mow down half the town if the operator starts to feel woozy.

 

[the old grind]

Wow. Good thing they didn't have a heart attack or stroke while doing something actually dangerous- like piloting an automobile at 70mph down a road full of innocents.

I mean those lawn mowers are almost impossible to stop from 4mph- likely to mow down half the town if the operator starts to feel woozy.

I wouldn't want to be riding in a plane or car either when the operator had a stroke, infarction, or flat front tire at 70. I'm sure many of you would know to respond with parachute or ejection seat accordingly, and most would then land on your feet if it happened, just as any toddler would, and never near any hazards, decks, rocks, or blades. Should we take our kids mowing with us to keep them away from the d___ TV? Fine, if that's the big picture.

Hey, maybe if enough folks trash the 'better safe than sorry' attitude no kid will ever be injured in a farming or mowing accident. (??) Well, maybe theirs won't, then. We could just vote right here for a new policy that will apply to all situations. I wont disparage or reproach anyone's child-rearing principles, but prefer not to think of the options as simply black & white.

America is about living in the 'gray areas', and my son has survived my own methods. (Single parent since he was 14 mos, no sitter when mowing, btw) Mikey may die from being hit in the head with a golf ball but I don't play golf, so he should live to a ripe old age.... :laughing:

Not judgement here, just considering risks and explaining my own beliefs. (It's a free country...)

btw: I believe there's an exception to every rule, not that any exception automatically makes its own rule. (Flame suit still on.)

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Humans love high risk activities by DNA it seems. I am OK with that to a point but not when we do it for a child that does not yet understand the risk. It is often hard to find good hearing protection for a child to be on or around many machines.

 

[super55]

My question wasn't about putting them in front of a TV or fun rides on mowers as it was as much as is it better to leave a 3 year old unsupervised in the house and hope they stay out of trouble and entertained or take them with you to a avoidable or possibly dangerous situation.

It's an ethical dilemma, For me personally I prefer having my son on my lap when I'm on the ZTR mower. He pushes the handlebars he's right with me and he knows not to get off my lap until the engine stops running. We have some slopes where the mower may slide a little bit but the chances of flipping are 0. Now I could go mow, put on Nemo for him and tell him not too leave this chair until I am back. Anybody who ever has been a parent know that the chances that a kid will sit in a chair for an hour are virtually none. He could get bored climb into something he shouldn't, possibly turn the stove on, fall down the stairs, the list goes on and on. Is an accident where the child got hurt from lack of immediate adult supervision more justifiable than one where the child was put in a possible hazardous environment?

What are the options for a single parent? Leave the kid unsupervised, take them with, or go and lock them in the dog kennel.

This fella one time was taking some photos of the cows in the pasture in front of my house. After he was finished he pulled in my drive. I figured he was probably lost like most people with out of state plates in my area. Nope this fella was gracious enough to inform me that mowing with my son on my lap was dangerous. Anyways I thanked the kind citizen for his concern and explained I was the only one home and it needed to get mowed so if he would be gracious enough to finish the field I would grab a beer, play with my son and be eternally grateful. Apparently he didn't know how to use a zero turn mower because he just got back in his car and drove away.

I know his intentions were good but part of "constructive criticism" is to offer alternative solutions and this gentleman had none and wasn't too keen on the one I had proposed.

 

[two_bit_score]

Man, I'm exhausted after reading 9 full pages of posts on this thread. So many attempts to climb higher than others on the moral high ground.

It is a mountain a lot of people enjoy trying to climb.

 

[two_bit_score]

I wouldn't want to be riding in a plane or car either when the operator had a stroke, infarction, or flat front tire at 70. I'm sure many of you would know to respond with parachute or ejection seat accordingly, and most would then land on your feet if it happened, just as any toddler would, and never near any hazards, decks, rocks, or blades. Should we take our kids mowing with us to keep them away from the d___ TV? Fine, if that's the big picture.

Hey, maybe if enough folks trash the 'better safe than sorry' attitude no kid will ever be injured in a farming or mowing accident. (??) Well, maybe theirs won't, then. We could just vote right here for a new policy that will apply to all situations. I wont disparage or reproach anyone's child-rearing principles, but prefer not to think of the options as simply black & white.

America is about living in the 'gray areas', and my son has survived my own methods. (Single parent since he was 14 mos, no sitter when mowing, btw) Mikey may die from being hit in the head with a golf ball but I don't play golf, so he should live to a ripe old age.... :laughing:

Not judgement here, just considering risks and explaining my own beliefs. (It's a free country...)

btw: I believe there's an exception to every rule, not that any exception automatically makes its own rule. (Flame suit still on.)

I got an email from my retirement plan telling me I need to plan to live to 100 years old. They must have a lot of confidence in my safety factor.

 

[two_bit_score]

O'k I AGREE THE THREAD DRIFTED AWAY FROM THE ORGINAL POST And since I did not see what Big kitty saw and stated in my post may not be correct area of posting. And the hot Weather in Mich. may cause some to drink sour milk.
I will not be bothering the remainder of this thread .
ken

Are you mad bro?