June 16, 2015

Parenting 101

Get your motor runnin' , Head out on the highway, Lookin' for adventure in whatever comes our way (source)

 
We can add ‘comparing beaches’ to the list of controversial topics, together with religion. I have to say, whenever  LebaneseBlogs tweets me, I get this huge spike in traffic. Much appreciated, guys. Many of their readers are quite 'passionate' people, though.
 
To all the lovers out there, thanks you guys, I really appreciate your messages of support and appreciation. And to all the haters; guys, you take this blog way too seriously! Definitely more seriously than I do. Relax. Chill. It’s just a blog. I am not making any decision on your behalf.
 
Let’s go to the beach, each,  Let’s go get a wave (source)
 
And now back to a post that might chase some more people on top of the closet (Dutch expression).
Another reason why I really like this place, is because nobody cares how you transport your children!
I was thinking of that when I drove past this little truck with an entire tribe in the back. The kids seemed to enjoy the ride just fine. No traumatized and teary faces in that bunch.
 
Don't forget the cooler, honey!

And I really like that. That I can decide for myself whether I transport a child in an FAA approved child-seat, or put a whole bunch of them in the flatbed of a truck.
Four kids on a scooter, twenty-seven little school children in a little Volkswagen van, a family in the back of the trunk with their feed dangling out on the highway, toddlers standing on the middle board of the scooter in between the rider’s legs on their way to pre-school, or an entire tribe in the back of a truck; who cares? As long as you get where you need to go.
 
Do you see the little feet sticking out. They didn't all fit in the car
You may scream lo and behold, but I grew up in post-seatbelt era, much like many other people, and I’m none the worse for it. I know it saves lives and horrible head injuries to countless people, but in a place where you might get blown up or bombed the next day, does it really matter if we wear our seatbelt? Yes, I know, it probably does, but how about leaving it up to people to decide for themselves. They’re not educated enough to make that decision? Well, that’s a tad bit condescending, don’t you think so? If you can carve out a living for your family here, you can make those decisions.  It’s not like the government is paying for all the medical bills that ensue from injuries caused by not wearing seat belts.  
 
Letting my freak flag fly (source)
Wearing seatbelts is one of those priorities that work well in the west, where building codes stipulate that electricity outlets have a ground wire, where everyone is medically covered and where there’s a government guarantee you will be provided with the bare necessities’ in case of loss of employment. None of which are in place here.
 
And that’s why I like this place.



What to say of this? A man in a motorized wheel chair on the shoulders of a three lane highway, on his way to Beirut (yep, against traffic).
 

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