06 Aug 2009
“I gotta pee” ~Forrest Gump to President Kennedy
There I am driving down the turnpike, and I have a long drive on it, and, well, nature calls. It is just me and my daughter in the van.
I pull into a rest stop. What do I do? Can I leave my daughter in the van alone? She is 16 years old, yet outwardly not even a toddler. It is illegal to leave an infant or toddler alone. But she is 16. Can I just leave her? Is it legal? Safe?
I really have to go …
Get out of the van, lock the van, go PEE. What’s a man with a disabled daughter to do? She may have the mentality of a toddler, but she is 16 and BIG. I say this in the sense that someone would have to be pretty skilled to “steal” your daughter. That coveting criminal had better be well versed in the undoing/removal of wheelchair tie-downs and/or strong enough to heave your daughter up out of her wheelchair (hey Mr. kidnapper! Don’t forget her TWO seat belts!) AND do it ALL at the speed of light or at least the time it takes you to pee.
I have a ten year old daughter, much I imagine similar to your daughter and I dare anyone to try and “steal” her without causing themselves a hernia in their haste. 🙂 She is 5 feet tall and 70 pounds.
Judy:
Interesting .. I never thought of it from that angle. Yes, my daughter at 88 pounds, and with the van ramp, no one is going to steal her. They would go for the gps first (which I hide). I think it is illegal to leave a toddler alone, I know they would at least call social services, but is this because of the fear of kidnapping? If the weather is not an issue (leaving a kid in a hot car is deserving of a long jail term) then what is?
Every so often on the news there is the story of (unfortunately usually) a mother that leaves a kid in a car or alone at home when she goes out drinking / partying. The kid gets taken away. What is the crime?
Thanks for the feedback. And yes, last time I just ran in and quickly pee’d.
Oh my gosh…. this is totally my life… because I always have to pee and my 14 year old (developmentally she’s assessed to be about 8-14 months old) is difficult to take into roadside places, etc. I often fantasize at wearing a Depends to just bypass this bathroom crap. I dont know what the answer is… but I share the same questions…
btw, your quotes are AWESOME!! i love the one in your masthead as well as the titles of your blogs!