My little one riding in cars with strangers?

Well, they are strangers to me at least. It has come to my attention yesterday that my MIL is organising play dates / gossip sessions for my son and her friends, whom I have never even seen, are the drivers. (MIL does not have a licence). The first week, I said OK as long as there is a proper child seat and did not think much of it. The second week (and a different driver friend), I learnt after that she "missed" the turn-off and they ended up in a completely different place. I thought to myself "She sounds like a bit of an incompetent driver to miss that road...". Today should have been yet another driver friend but I cancelled because I am starting to think this is not OK. I do not know these people at all. My MIL actually does not know 2 of them for very long. She says they are good drivers but as she does not even have a licence, I question her ability to judge that. I have been driving in this city at peak hours for the last 9 years and I know that having kids on board does not make one a good driver... Far from it actually.
Am I paranoid or do I have a legitimate right to say no way until I meet these people?
When I miss a road, I know how to turn around at the earliest opportunity! The place they miised is the National Museum, no less, and the signs are big...
 
You should have said NO right off the bat. You NEVER let your child ride with a stranger anywhere. You don't know what their intentions are or anything about them, their driving record or if they are a safe driver. You don't know if they are secretly involved in drugs or other things that could harm children OR if they are even using proper child seats and restraints in a moving vehicle. I would have more of an issue in not knowing that than I would be over someone missing a turn. Good grief, I'm a safe driver and have been for many years and even I have missed a turn now and then- especially if I'm not overly familiar with the area I may be in.

I think I would tell the MIL that if she wants to see these friends of hers and go places that you would be more comfortable if she did it when your child was not in her care and that you are not comfortable with people you don't know driving around with your child in the car in case something should happen. It doesn't make you "uptight" by saying NO to riding in cars with strangers. It makes you a smart mom and a good parent. Any parent that would say "sure, I don't know anything about you but here's my kid, go for a ride" is a moron. It is those people that have their kids on the 6 o'clock news under an Amber alert for missing children and standing there in front of a camera going "well, my mother in law was with them but I didn't know the other people that took the child to drive somewhere".

Mommy knows best. You're obviously not OK with the aspect of this or you wouldn't be questioning it.
 
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