MOMania

By Jesse's Girl

June 16, 2006 07:54 AM | Link to this

Luckily my 2 brothers are deputies in the county we live in. Although I have never had to throw their names around….apparently I am on the family-do- not-ticket-list….I know I would in a heart beat!! And on point this morning, no I have never used the kids as an excuse. Having 3, I wouldn’t have to make up an excuse….something crappy (sometimes literally) always seems to be happening in the car! I would honestly be able to rattle off some miserable emergency that demanded my need for speed. In that event, I just hope it happens in our common county:)

By SJ

June 16, 2006 08:43 AM | Link to this

No, I’ve never used the kids to try and get out of a ticket. That’s just silly. Plan ahead, pull over and feed the baby, pull over and change the diaper if needed, pull over and let the toddler go to the bathroom. These are not emergencies that warrant speeding, although they can be frustating and unnerving.

By anne

June 16, 2006 08:45 AM | Link to this

I know I’m not supposed to break the law by speeding, or lie to a policeman. It really is un-Christian (and you know that thanks to Theresa’s tip we visited the Real Holy Land down in Florida and hit up the gift shop so now I’ve got that big fish symbol on the back of my Ford Expedition), but …anyhow …the needs of my precious babies really do come first.

Who cares if I speed through residential neighborhoods, MY baby’s crying and poopy and I’ve got to get home! Like the other day we were coming back from Chuck E Cheese and little Johnny was screaming and screaming ‘cause his diaper was stinky and I only bought him seven bags of M and Ms and two Cokes (he wanted eight of each). Even the in-car DVD player (Cartoon Network) wouldn’t shut him up. Well, anyhow, there I was speeding through my neighborhood and – oops! – I almost ran over a neighbor kid - bless his heart, the little thing actually thought he could cross the road in a crosswalk.

Anyhow, after the police stopped my I just cried and lied, ‘cause it’s all too much to cope with, you know – this meaningless life, kids crying, ice cream dripping on the leather interior … and that God-awful wailing from the back seat. Well, I called up my girlfriends in the neighborhood and we all got back into our cars and drove the two blocks to Susie’s house just as fast as we could for a few consoling cocktails. Motherhood is tough. Anyhow, to answer your question – YES! Speeding, lying (and drinking gin at 10:30 in the morning) are absolutely the right thing for mothers to do to protect and defend our babies. Regardless of whether we’re related to the cops or not.

By Childfree by Choice

June 16, 2006 08:51 AM | Link to this

Mombie alert! Mombie alert! Honest to God, Theresa, do you stop at nothing? Everyone is in a hurry these days, but police should cut parents some slack just because they have kids in the back seat? Would you still feel your speeding was justified if you got into an accident and your children were hurt?

By Jesse's Girl

June 16, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this

I’m sorry…did you say something?

By Hmmm

June 16, 2006 09:02 AM | Link to this

Theresa I’ve got to hand it to ya—you really know how to phrase these questions to get folks riled up.

I don’t have kids but once I was really bloated with pms and my belly was pooching out. I was in a hurry and thought “If I get a speeding ticket, I’ll just tell the cop I’m going into labor.”

But common sense prevailed—I might have gotten a police escort and upon arriving at the hospital the cop would’ve seen I was just a bloated mean woman with oreo crumbs on her lap.

By past50mom

June 16, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this

Hey Childfree! Theresa is honest and lets it all hang out for us to discuss, the good, the bad and the ugly! She’s not advocating speeding, just talking about real world stuff. If you had kids, you just might understand the context of these discussions. Guess it just s$%ks being you!

By anne

June 16, 2006 09:24 AM | Link to this

Hold on there, girls. I have kids and I don’t understand the context of these discussions! But when it doubt, just personally attack the person with whom you do not agree.

By fk

June 16, 2006 09:34 AM | Link to this

No. I was pulled over last year for the first time in my life. I wasn’t speeding, it was one of those fleeting moments when I used bad judgment and was caught. I was just up the road from our subdivision. Traffic was heavy and those blue lights draw lots of attention. I was mortified, but I didn’t cry until I got home.

I had no idea as to what to do, and my 14 year old was sitting beside me. I knew I had to say something. So, when the officer gave me the paperwork to be signed, I actually asked him if he was giving me a ticket…duh.

I had a serious comprehension problem while the policeman was explaining the options to me. I just kept talking, asking the same questions. I was flustered and my inexperience was obvious. He was really very nice and answered every one of my questions…three or four times. He probably thought I had a mental deficiency. Six weeks later, I went to traffic court and was advised by the Clerk that the cop had reduced my ticket to a warning. What a guy! I was so relieved and thankful…4 points and a $100!

Naturally, I rationalized the whole incident. I turned the whole embarrassing episode into a learning lesson for my son, who was only months away from getting his Learner’s Permit. See what happens when you use exercise poor judgment? There are consequences. I never told him that the ticket was reduced.

By past50mom

June 16, 2006 09:38 AM | Link to this

anne, well, duh, you never understand what we are talking about, and you have attacked us plenty of times for our “inane” discussions. I’m off to help my sister-in-law who’s having surgery today. Y’all have a great weekend!

By Out of Uniform

June 16, 2006 09:44 AM | Link to this

I’m not buying it, Theresa. There’s NEVER an excuse to endanger lives. What made the Mom run late on getting home for mealtime anyway - too long at Target? As a mom of 3 kids, now grown, I say SJ is right. Just pull into a store parking lot and take care of it. Maybe the baby wasn’t hungry - maybe a finger was pinched in the car seat, or the sun was in her eyes. Might be a good idea to stop and see what’s wrong.

We all know babies have a time limit on their ability to be patient with outings. Be an adult and put the baby’s needs first. In a real bind, I’ve even gone in a store, purchased a jar of baby food and a box of plastic spoons, and fed the little critter right there in the car.

By will

June 16, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this

With the name Momania, it would be easy to make the assumption that this blog deals with the day to day dillemas and struggles that face todays mothers. I pass through this blog daily with hopes of gaining understanding of my own wifes daily struggles. I must say though, after several months of reading, this blog is more about hedging or reducing the amount of responsibility of motherhood than accepting the challenges we all have to face as parents. Daily were told of how to get out of housework by hiring minority housekeepers, Have more free time by putting our 2 year olds in preschool (then scrutinize the schools choice of teacher), How to hire “mothers Helpers” on the first day of summer vacation, so that we can “get things done”. How we can go on really expensive vacations, but complain about how expensive they are, and then today, we learn about how we can speed or run stop signs(with our big black SUV, of course), then, when caught, “use our kids” to get out of it. This blog sounds more to me to be about the reluctance and indecision of some of us to be committed, selfless parents. That some of us resent having to be with our “little guys” and would be happier at the office, making money and accumulating status. The AJC would do well to have a blog that REALLY deals, head on, with parenting issues, and run by committed, devoted parents. One for working mothers and one for SAHM’s. The confused, hyphenated, work at home moms would be forced to make a choice.

By Out of Uniform

June 16, 2006 09:51 AM | Link to this

Well, thanks WILL. You killed off this blog, that’s for sure. Go work for the Peace Corps or something.

By Childfree by Choice

June 16, 2006 09:54 AM | Link to this

To Anne: Thank you!! I appreciate you saying that. I love your posts, btw.

By abc

June 16, 2006 09:58 AM | Link to this

I agree with will, MOMania gets pretty trivial and whiny.

@anne, Speeding through a subdivision because of your own child’s hunger or dirty diaper endangers all the other kids playing outside. That’s just plain irresponsible.

@Theresa, blaming your kids for a traffic violation is a big cop out. If you get stopped for an infraction, own up to it and pay the price.

By DPR

June 16, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

To answer the blog question, no I have not used my kids to get out of a ticket. Never had the occasion arise.

I am firm believer that most accidents happen within 2 miles of home…we’re so comfortable with the route that we will often let down our guard and carelessly function in “auto-pilot”. To add a state of rush to that is throwing all caution to the wind. Many residential neighborhoods around here are filled with houses that are quite close and many children and pets at play.

Driving in a chancy manner to shave a few minutes off is not worth the inherent risk one assumes with speeding, rolling stops, or other unsafe practices. I’d rather hear the baby cry for 3 additional minutes than risk an accident and never hear that cry again.

Like Out of Uniform, if things hit a state of emergency in the car, I simply pulled over and dealt with it then…be it a diaper change, feeding, or breaking up a fight between 2 toddlers :)

By Amy

June 16, 2006 10:10 AM | Link to this

Well, I have to chime in on this one. Maybe there’s something about turning 40 (and after) because the world USED to revolve around me and my kids but all of a sudden I’ve noticed that it doesn’t any more.

I understand the urgency to get home and deal with the problem, and the trapped feelings because of traffic.

However, I have decided lately that I will HAVE to learn to be patient in traffic, and have Plan B, & C which would mean pulling over and dealing with the problem.

There is so little margin for error in this area - being distracted by a baby can KILL you and your children. The police need to get the urgency across, and we have to pay for it.

There are the words of wisdom from the old and decrepit.

By Mike

June 16, 2006 10:14 AM | Link to this

I bet Mike (your hubby, not me) can get out of any ticket.

Officer pulls Mike G. over, steps up to windown and asks why he is driving like a maniac.

Mike G. just kinda nods towards his wife and says he is in a hurry to get her out of his car.

Any policeman would surely let him go on that. I know I would if I had a badge and a gun. (Actually, I might just empty the gun into Mrs. G.)

Seriously, the saddest thing about this whole column is that you were allowed to reproduce in order to write it. I just wonder at how mal-adjusted your kids are going to be.

By Jesse's Girl

June 16, 2006 10:31 AM | Link to this

Will….you say you stop by this blog in hopes of gaining some kind of insight on how to better understand your wife’s stay at home life. Why would you..as a loving and supportive husband….look to a blog before turning to your wife to actually ask her how she feels about certain things? And I giggle at your ignorant audacity in suggesting that stay at home moms who also choose to work from home are somehow deficient. That we should just be happy that someone married us and got us pregnant. How dare we exercise our rights and minds by juggling our marriages and children while contributing to the college fund! Perhaps if your wife wasn’t forced to swallow your dull-stepford-diatribe, she could shine as a stay at home mom AND an exceptional business woman. So my advice to you Will is to go to your wife and beg her forgiveness before the next thing she cleans is the side of the closet where your clothes used to hang.

And as far as Child Free is concerned….why the he** are you even here? Is your day really so boring that you have to post in a blog that has absolutely nothing to do with your life? So you’re child free? So what?

Theresa was writng about a friend of her’s that was pulled over. And even if it was really her….big woop! Unless of course there is one of you that visit this blog that has never in your parenting life done anything eyebrow raising. If that is the case, then please let us know so that we might learn at the feet of a master.

By sue

June 16, 2006 10:42 AM | Link to this

Everyone has had a moment of distraction while driving. Perhaps you’ve glanced down at the speedometer and realized that you were going 80mph on I-285. It happens.

The real question should be, “Do you use your kids an excuse to try to get out of the ticket, when you are caught?” I don’t think that Theresa is advocating breaking the law or speeding through residential neighborhoods.

I’ve had 3 tickets in my 28 years of driving, but none since I’ve been a parent. I didn’t have children to blame them on. I probably wouldn’t have tried anyway. I never tried to talk the officers out of my tickets. I knew that I had made the mistakes.

I did have a friend that used her future child to get out of a speeding ticket. She was driving over the speed limit on her way to her OB-GYN’s office. When she was pulled over, she explained to the officer that she was ovulating and on her way to be artificially inseminated (that part was true). Then she pointed to the lunch bag on the passenger’s seat and said, “that bag has my husband’s sperm in it and it is only viable for 30 minutes.” (that part was the lie, she was using frozen sperm and the bag contained a sandwich). She said that the officer started blushing at the word “ovulating” and by the time she told him the lie about the lunch bag, he was speechless. He stammered for a moment then said, ‘…Um…well….be careful.”

By Amy

June 16, 2006 10:56 AM | Link to this

Great story, Sue.

By Tam

June 16, 2006 11:23 AM | Link to this

Yes, but I never had to lie. I ran a red light on P’tree Ind and the police pulled me over. On the back of my van I have a bumper sticker that said ” I’m proud of my Cub Scout”. Well, the officer gave me a warning and told me that he couldn’t give a ticket to a fellow scout gave my 10yo the scouts salute and send me on my way! I was relieved and embarassed in front of my kids for not following the rules.

By No Kids

June 16, 2006 11:33 AM | Link to this

I am laughing myself silly at you guys! Anne, you’re a pip…never stop being funny as #$&%! All you parents that are taking these things WAY too seriously really should give the kids to gramma for the weekend and GET LAID! What a bunch of uptight wingnuts.

Theresa, you’re just the Head wingnut here. Using your kids to get out of a ticket? What else do you use them for…do they buy your crack for you, too?

By Jesse's Girl

June 16, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this

Thanks for the advice No Kids. But we are already very proficient at “getting laid”….this being a parenting blog and all.

By No Kids

June 16, 2006 12:14 PM | Link to this

Well either you’re not doing it enough or you’re sticking with the same position and are getting bored. I can’t believe how insane some of these posts are. Lighten up, Francis!

By Jesse's Girl

June 16, 2006 12:22 PM | Link to this

Again, I have to ask….why would someone who has chosen to have no children bother to post in a blog dedicated to those who have? Perhaps you should address your own boredom….

By nikki

June 16, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this

Everybody lighten up. This blog is for entertainment. Motherhood AND Fatherhood isn’t easy. The older the kids get the crazier you become. Got to have an outlet somewhere. @No kids - your blogs are misplaced - try misadventure in atlanta

By lynn

June 16, 2006 01:39 PM | Link to this

I bought my 84 Camaro when they were first coming out with the digital dash and I told the officer it was stuck on kilometers and he would have to tell we what km 55 mph would equal (he had no clue). He just laughed and told me to stay with the flow until I could get it fixed.

By Jesse's Girl

June 16, 2006 01:42 PM | Link to this

@ Lynn…I love it! That is awesome!!

By Atl Pearl Girl

June 16, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this

Well…..I will have to admit…when my kids were younger, I ‘accidently’ ran a yellow light which was turning red (which I thought was perfectly legal in the south). When the police officer pulled me over, my younger son started crying. Well..I was peeved. when the office approached my car my son cried even louder, and I then told the officer ‘Look what you’ve done…you’ve upset my child!!!”…. He apologized and told me to watch more closely…. I was sent on my way. :::::smiling sweetly::::::

By JustAskin'

June 16, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this

My husband has been cop for going on ten years. We have a 3 year old and I have been stopped, of course, for speeding. My son in the back seat hollers,”My daddy is policey man.” The motorcycle cop enjoyed talking to my little all the while asking for my autograph. I guess maybe that was the reason I got the ticket. Not for speeding but being married to a cop. :)

By Jesse's Girl

June 16, 2006 01:57 PM | Link to this

@ Just Askin’….maybe it was just a matter of city vs county:)

By JustAskin'

June 16, 2006 02:01 PM | Link to this

Nah…it was just Duluth. I try not to name drop. I think it’s abusing the system. I take my tickets and move on. Now when I was about to almost get a DUI I had to. You know how it is with the city vs county guys. :) That hierarchy thing.

By momof2

June 16, 2006 02:37 PM | Link to this

Well, I got out of it once, all being honest though. Being a SAHM, we live on one income, and thus had to wait a few extra weeks to pay off the car tag tax. Our tag was due a month earlier and I thought there was a grace period(of course not!) We were bored so I decided to take the kids to a local puppet show, which was only 8 dollars. I got pulled over by a cop and explained that we live on one income, and just didn’t have the $100+ to get a car tag right now. I can’t work because I have small kids, and any money I make would be confiscated for childcare, or else I’d love to work to help with bills. I made sure he noticed my 3 and 1 year olds in the backseat. I told him my hub would get a paycheck that following week, and so he let me go with a warning, and I just had to bring my receipt to the police station to show I’d payed for it. I thanked him for his leniency and understanding, and we just went back home instead of the puppet show. All you SAHMs who live on one income, hats off to you for your dedication to your children instead of money. It’s a BIG sacrifice but worth it.

By anne

June 16, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this

I’m a stay at home mom, too. So like the other day I held up the Quick Trip down the street because, ya know, I make so many sacrifices for my children and don’t allow them to be raised by strangers and I’m morally superior to everyone else and …. anyhow, when the cops arrested me I explained the great sacrifices I was making for my family and really (ultimately) my country and they let me off with a warning and an extra-large drink.

By nikki

June 16, 2006 02:57 PM | Link to this

@anne - I hope you don’t need help any time soon. Cause its my humble guess you’re such a smart a$$ you don’t have any friends except maybe other jerks.

By momof2

June 16, 2006 03:00 PM | Link to this

Anne, Did I ever say I was superior to everyone else? Always someone gets an attitude for no reason. Always something to waaaahhh over.

By Still Childfree by Choice

June 16, 2006 03:05 PM | Link to this

Anne: You rock! Don’t let the fuddy duddies with no sense of humor chase you away from here.

By Jesse's Girl

June 16, 2006 03:06 PM | Link to this

Anne, sweet heart..put down the pipe. Its ok. We are here for you…..but only in superior sort of way.

By nikki

June 16, 2006 03:22 PM | Link to this

@stillchildfreebychoice - You say you don’t want them, but you hang out here. I think you maybe want kids.

By JustAskin'

June 16, 2006 03:46 PM | Link to this

For two, who apparently have no children, why do reference morally superior

By frank123

June 16, 2006 04:23 PM | Link to this

Agree with SJ. I’ve never used my kids to try and get out of a ticket. What a sorry story. Just pull over. How do you know why the kid is crying unless you pull over? Maybe the kid needs a diaper change, a feeding, a bug’s biting, a toys is out of reach, or the kid is just terrified about you speeding (jerking, skidding etc). If you don’t want to pull over, just turn up the radio.

By katie

June 19, 2006 08:12 AM | Link to this

That’s pathetic. Anyone who uses any family member, even if they’re a cop, to get out of a ticket is a loser. Stand up, be an adult and accept the ticket you deserve. No one is above the law.

By Heather

June 19, 2006 08:14 AM | Link to this

I speed always! I generally do not get pulled over. I heard that in GA as long as you are doing no more than 9 mph over the limit that only a highway patrol could pull you over in any speed zone higher than 25. It annoys me when people on the back roads early in the morning do not speed. Just who is going to be out there??? I can tell you on my route just where every police officer may be.

By Nan

June 19, 2006 08:48 AM | Link to this

Re: Heather - I am the person on those back roads, as well as joggers and people on bicycles. People like you that speed are inconsiderate idiots. The speed limit is there for a reason: safety. One day you will be the person that runs over a person or pet and you will pay a hefty price for your inability to leave on time in order to arrive without speeding. I bet you are also the idiot that tailgates me because I DO drive the limit. Just remember this: whenever someone tailgates me because they have judged that I’m wrong for not breaking the law in order to accommodate them, I simply sloooww down. Seeing the irritation that I cause just makes my day, not to mention that I make the road safer for everyone when I slow down (temporarily) maniacal drivers like you.

By Elane

June 19, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

Oddly, it has never occurred to me to use my child (back when he was a tyke, and not a teen as he is now) to avoid a ticket, BUT on two occasions, the officer in question voluntarily let me go for that very reason. The first time, I was speeding. The officer called me over to his car and quietly said “I don’t want your child to see you get a ticket because he might get a bad impression of police officers. But slow it down!” And of course, I did. The second time, I rolled through a stop sign and got pulled over. I noticed the officer looking at my son, who was smiling his most irresistible smile. The officer spoke into his radio and said “Well, I’ve got an urgent call to answer, so I’m gonna let it go this time…” In both cases, my baby saved my hide. I couldn’t have gotten that result on my own, because I have a low A.Q. (adorability quotient).

By Kathleen

June 19, 2006 12:13 PM | Link to this

Using your kids to get out of a ticket?! Oh brother! I remember back in the ’70s, my brother and I were in the car when mom got a ticket for driving in the emergency lane on 285 to get to a job interview (for a second job!) on time. Not only did she NOT talk her way out of it by using us kids as an excuse, she got the ticket and also took us kids to the court hearing so that we learned a lesson: if you break the law, there are consequences! By the way, in case anyone asks, she was a single mom in a decade that wasn’t kind toward single moms (you couldn’t even have a credit card in your own name as a female back then!)and also worked full time and completed a master’s degree too! If you use your kids as an excuse to get out of a ticket, you are only perpetuating the “no responsibility” attitude that is poisoning our country!

By will

June 19, 2006 05:18 PM | Link to this

Nikki said it best, this blog is for entertainment purposes only! and nothing else.