they call it the holiday rush, but please...

slow down!

Today I was in the parking lot at Old Navy, getting ready to get out of the car. Get the purse, grab my drink, all the while talking to my mom on the phone. I looked up, and to my horror, there was a silver civic, backing out of her parking spot, within an inch of a little boy who was no older than  two and a half. The boy was running away, as best as he could, but the car was backing just as fast. I saw the car bumper litterally kissing his back the whole time. He must have screamed, because his mom, who was putting the stroller in the trunk, turned around, grabbed him, and stopped the other car. It all happened SO fast. I didn't even have time to open my door. The mom and driver exchanged brief apologies, driver never even leaving her car, and then drove away. Um, crazy?! Finally locating my brain, I ran over to make sure they were okay. The little guy was crying and saying "mommy, I scared! I scared!" The mother was crying even harder than the little boy. I asked if they were alright and she said, "We're fine, just scared. I just wasn't watching him." 

Part of why this scared me so badly is because this wasn't two people acting recklessly, these are mistakes we make every day. The driver checked her rear view mirror, but the boy wasn't visible, being shorter than the hight of the back of the car. The mom was just putting away her stroller and took her eyes off him for one second. Should she have put her baby in first? yes. Should the driver have taken special care to watch for children? yes. But we are guilty of this kind of thing all the time. 

It was so close to disaster. If the little boy hadn't seen the car, or if he had tripped while running, if the mom hadn't turned around when she did, it could have ended tragically. So while you're out hurrying to get the last presents purchased, just remember, slow down!