Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
I realize its after midnight so its not technically St. Patrick's Day anymore, but oh well :)
I cannot express how amazed I have been with the facebook page lately. Admittedly, when I started this I was genuinely concerned that no one would care and it would fizzle out. I am so happy to be wrong! As I post tonight we have 350 'likes' on the page. That's amazing! I realize there are other pages that have upwards of thousands of people but they all had to start with 350 at some point and 350 is tons better than 0 if you ask me!
The one thing that surprises me more than the volume of people joining, is the support everyone has to offer! I check the page as often as I can, but sometimes I just can't get to it soon enough; I'm learning not to worry too much because no question goes unanswered! Everyone has such wonderful feedback and advice, it seems we are forming our own community. Thank you all, once again.
I would also like to give a special thanks to a few people in my life who truly deserve a lot more thanks than I've been giving....
Leah- This girl is my ERF rock! I told her about this before I even started and she was nothing, NOTHING but supportive and helpful. She is always willing to listen to my rants and joins in :). She has made helpful suggestions and helped me spread the page in ways I could not have done alone. She is a wonderful mother and my head cheerleader in this movement!
Eric- The best father that my son could ask for. He is my best friend despite what people expect our relationship to be lol. He has been understanding of this since Aiden-Liam's birth and possibly the most educated man I know when it comes to Extended Rear Facing lol, he has never asked me to stop talking about it...he is always willing to listen and absorb everything I say. Standing firm on ERF'ing with our son is definitely the best support he can give me and he has.
Laurie- My mommy. She has been tough loving me on this. Telling me to work harder when I've given up, standing by me when more 'old fashioned' family members tell me to turn my son forward facing and trusting that I know best for my son, which in this case involves his car seat. When I was younger ERF wasn't 'the thing' to do with your children but she never pushed forward facing on me when I became a mother.
Larry- The boyfriend lol. He probably gets the blunt of the frustrated tears and rants when I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. He may not entirely understand the statistics, facts or regulations behind ERF but he still backs me up 110%.
Thank you guys.
Your support means the world to me.
Now, on to business :)
I've found myself using the same 'catch phrase' (if you will...) when I'm sharing the link to the facebook page... and that is "It is amazing how a small change in your life can save your child's". I like it, I think its catchy and interesting, I think it may make some people want to see what I'm talking about. I think its going to become my motto for this movement!
What do you all think of the new 'motto'? I'm curious!
Please feel free to message me on our facebook page, leave comments or just read the other posts! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Extended-Rear-Facing-Movement/185640958120418
Thanks for reading!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Life.
Hello everyone again!
I know, I know, its been forever since I've posted anything.
What happened? Simply put= LIFE!
Honestly I have excuse after excuse but most importantly this cause is so close to my heart, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I was told a few days ago, don't give up on something you cannot go a day without thinking about.
On that note, the facebook page is doing great! We are gathering 'likes' slowly but surely.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Extended-Rear-Facing-Movement/185640958120418
I don't have anything new to report, even in all the time from my last post I still have not received replies from most of the people I have contacted regarding the issue.
Has anyone made any progress in their lives?
Please share!
I hope everyone is enjoying the little peek of spring that most states have been getting lately :)
I know, I know, its been forever since I've posted anything.
What happened? Simply put= LIFE!
Honestly I have excuse after excuse but most importantly this cause is so close to my heart, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I was told a few days ago, don't give up on something you cannot go a day without thinking about.
On that note, the facebook page is doing great! We are gathering 'likes' slowly but surely.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Extended-Rear-Facing-Movement/185640958120418
I don't have anything new to report, even in all the time from my last post I still have not received replies from most of the people I have contacted regarding the issue.
Has anyone made any progress in their lives?
Please share!
I hope everyone is enjoying the little peek of spring that most states have been getting lately :)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Day 6: Baby steps! Finally getting somewhere!
Happy Tuesday everyone!
Can you believe it is day 6 already?! Wow!
On to my news!....
I wasn't too sure how to go about contacting my local clinic considering when I called I really didn't get anywhere... so I went to the website
I first clicked "contact us"...which I circled in blue and labeled as "1"
then I clicked the concerns option which is circled in green and labeled as "2"
and considering I had no idea who the message was being sent to, I said the following:
I just had a few questions about the information your office provides to the families that use your services.
Who provides any/all informational pamphlets that you have available?
Do you provide any information about extended rear facing car seats and the safety benefits?
If I have concerns or questions about introducing another educational car seat pamphlet into the office who would I contact?
I really appreciate your time, thank you
Who provides any/all informational pamphlets that you have available?
Do you provide any information about extended rear facing car seats and the safety benefits?
If I have concerns or questions about introducing another educational car seat pamphlet into the office who would I contact?
I really appreciate your time, thank you
I honestly didn't think that anything would come of that but I was happily surprised this morning when I checked my email and discovered that I had a response. The woman who responded was wonderfully polite and told me:
In response to your email sent to Marshfield Clinic:
The information that is provided is chosen by the departments responsible for that topic; Pediatrics would decide about car seat information. The material currently used is from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation. When information is available that is current and accurate, the Clinic contracts with that publisher. If nothing is available on a topic, a Clinic health care provider who is knowledgeable on the topic would create a draft and the Clinic would publish it, following patient education guidelines. At the current time we do not feel we need another pamphlet on car seat safety. Pediatrics would have to request more information for it to be considered. Thank you for your interest.
The information that is provided is chosen by the departments responsible for that topic; Pediatrics would decide about car seat information. The material currently used is from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation. When information is available that is current and accurate, the Clinic contracts with that publisher. If nothing is available on a topic, a Clinic health care provider who is knowledgeable on the topic would create a draft and the Clinic would publish it, following patient education guidelines. At the current time we do not feel we need another pamphlet on car seat safety. Pediatrics would have to request more information for it to be considered. Thank you for your interest.
I am extremely happy with this response because it thoroughly answered all the questions I had asked. I did go on to reply to that email and explain that the information provided was outdated as far as the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for car seats goes. I then immediately was sent an email saying that I should contact my local clinic and that if I would like she would follow up on it. I sent a detailed message about the outdated information provided and how I felt it could be changed and thanked her once again for her help.
This is extremely motivating!
I am very happy with this glimmer of progress!
I will continue to update as responses to my emails, letters and phone calls reach me.
I would like to thank everyone who reads my blog and has made efforts to verbally spread the message about rear facing.
Also, I have created a fan page on facebook for this blog!
Go ahead and 'like' it !
I hope everyone has a wonderful evening and a great morning tomorrow,
Racheal
Monday, January 17, 2011
Day 5: The right approach?
What exactly is the right approach?
Clearly I want to make a change, a large one at that... but how?
It's amazing how nervous I can get while writing a simple letter...I'm never sure how to address the recipient, how to approach the topic without coming across unreasonable.
I am extremely confident in my ability to write a proper letter, I know the format and what I want to get across, yet every time I pull that word document up I freeze. Why?
It is frustrating. The weight of what I am trying to do is really pushing down now, and I am realizing this is not going to be an easy accomplishment, its going to test me in my patience, my dedication and my intelligence. I see this now and I am going to tackle it head on with everything I've got. I'm not afraid to ask for help, the problem is help is hard to find. It is very hard to spread the news on ERF when no one wants to listen...but then again I probably wouldn't listen if I were you either...
So that leaves the question of 'what is the right approach' unanswered...
Admittedly today's post hasn't shed new light on anything ERF related really, I don't have any interviews to share, I don't have any new break through or road blocks.
Just a very frustrated author of a very unpopular blog pondering where to start and how. Until I have an epiphany on the 'right' approach, I'll just have to keep doing what I am doing and hope that something comes of it.
I will stay persistent. I must.
Thank you for reading today,
Racheal
Clearly I want to make a change, a large one at that... but how?
It's amazing how nervous I can get while writing a simple letter...I'm never sure how to address the recipient, how to approach the topic without coming across unreasonable.
I am extremely confident in my ability to write a proper letter, I know the format and what I want to get across, yet every time I pull that word document up I freeze. Why?
It is frustrating. The weight of what I am trying to do is really pushing down now, and I am realizing this is not going to be an easy accomplishment, its going to test me in my patience, my dedication and my intelligence. I see this now and I am going to tackle it head on with everything I've got. I'm not afraid to ask for help, the problem is help is hard to find. It is very hard to spread the news on ERF when no one wants to listen...but then again I probably wouldn't listen if I were you either...
So that leaves the question of 'what is the right approach' unanswered...
Admittedly today's post hasn't shed new light on anything ERF related really, I don't have any interviews to share, I don't have any new break through or road blocks.
Just a very frustrated author of a very unpopular blog pondering where to start and how. Until I have an epiphany on the 'right' approach, I'll just have to keep doing what I am doing and hope that something comes of it.
I will stay persistent. I must.
Thank you for reading today,
Racheal
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Day 4: You cannot control strangers or wildlife...
Guns don't kill people, people kill people.
Everyone has heard of that, right?
Its a fact though, guns don't load themselves and shoot people all alone, there is someone to pull the trigger.
In a similar sense, cars don't kill people, drivers do.
This is also true, in a car accident typically there is a driver behind the wheel, not a car with a mind of its own. I think its safe to say that a majority of the time there is a car accident, it is just that...an accident. I don't believe that there are many people who deliberately hit another car purely to murder a stranger.
That in mind, do you tell your children to 'buckle up'? I imagine so. I know a few adults who do not believe in wearing seat belts themselves, but these people do make sure that their children have buckled their seat belts. Why? I think the obvious answer is because it is safe.
I was told through out drivers ed, and by my parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents etc. many times that you might not cause an accident, but you cannot trust the other drivers. How are you supposed to know for sure that the car in front of you isn't driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol or even just plain tired. Texting while driving has made the news in a lot of places nowadays, because it is unsafe and dangerous. These are all 'wild cards' on the road, anyone could be doing it at any time.
Here in Wisconsin we have deer, and a lot of them. They like fields, pine trees, nice creeks with fresh water...oh and running in front of cars. I have yet to hear of a deer that spoke English and could read a stop light or used a cross walk. I feel as though I have a better chance of hitting a deer than another vehicle because they are so unexpected, and that is why we use our 'brights' when we drive.
People purchase car and health insurance every day because it is responsible to plan ahead, to plan for the 'what ifs' in life. You don't buy car insurance because you PLAN on getting in a wreck, and you don't purchase health insurance because you PLAN on getting very ill. I view ERF as another form of insurance, one that reassures me that IF I get into a car accident, whether it be by the hands of another driver, the weather, or even a deer, I can know that I took one more step to keep my son safe. It does ease my mind knowing that every time I buckle my son into his ERF safe car seat I am taking the initiative to do my best to keep him as safe as I can.
~Racheal~
Everyone has heard of that, right?
Its a fact though, guns don't load themselves and shoot people all alone, there is someone to pull the trigger.
In a similar sense, cars don't kill people, drivers do.
This is also true, in a car accident typically there is a driver behind the wheel, not a car with a mind of its own. I think its safe to say that a majority of the time there is a car accident, it is just that...an accident. I don't believe that there are many people who deliberately hit another car purely to murder a stranger.
That in mind, do you tell your children to 'buckle up'? I imagine so. I know a few adults who do not believe in wearing seat belts themselves, but these people do make sure that their children have buckled their seat belts. Why? I think the obvious answer is because it is safe.
I was told through out drivers ed, and by my parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents etc. many times that you might not cause an accident, but you cannot trust the other drivers. How are you supposed to know for sure that the car in front of you isn't driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol or even just plain tired. Texting while driving has made the news in a lot of places nowadays, because it is unsafe and dangerous. These are all 'wild cards' on the road, anyone could be doing it at any time.
Here in Wisconsin we have deer, and a lot of them. They like fields, pine trees, nice creeks with fresh water...oh and running in front of cars. I have yet to hear of a deer that spoke English and could read a stop light or used a cross walk. I feel as though I have a better chance of hitting a deer than another vehicle because they are so unexpected, and that is why we use our 'brights' when we drive.
People purchase car and health insurance every day because it is responsible to plan ahead, to plan for the 'what ifs' in life. You don't buy car insurance because you PLAN on getting in a wreck, and you don't purchase health insurance because you PLAN on getting very ill. I view ERF as another form of insurance, one that reassures me that IF I get into a car accident, whether it be by the hands of another driver, the weather, or even a deer, I can know that I took one more step to keep my son safe. It does ease my mind knowing that every time I buckle my son into his ERF safe car seat I am taking the initiative to do my best to keep him as safe as I can.
~Racheal~
Day 3 & 4: Anti ERF law?!
Yesterday was my birthday, and admittedly I didn't do much.
Yep, got lazy but hey, it was my birthday.
Today I discovered this:
and to be honest I am disgusted.
I personally live in Wisconsin...and this is what it says:
children younger than 1 and all children who weigh less than 20 pounds are required to be in a rear-facing infant seat; children 1 through 3 years who weigh at least 20 pounds but less than 40 pounds are required to be in a forward-facing child safety seat; children 4 through 7 who both weigh at least 40 pounds but less than 80 pounds and who are less than 57 inches tall are required to be in a booster seat
You're kidding me!
That is probably why people don't ERF!
It's illegal?
If it is illegal then why did the officer I asked about ERF with my son he said it was okay?
If it is illegal then why did the officer I asked about ERF with my son he said it was okay?
This is misleading information that is now a big thorn in my side.
I will definitely find an answer to why this is published and why its not enforced if its 'required', more importantly why is that 'required'.
I would really like to know what is going on to cause such a law.
This needs to change.
I will make a priority of contacting my local courthouse tomorrow so that I can speak with a law enforcement officer. I wish that one phone call could change this but that is hardly the case...but I am whole heatedly dedicated to seeing this through.
Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!
Have a happy Monday!
~Racheal~
Friday, January 14, 2011
Day 2- Why DONT you ERF?
I am in the process of calling around areas that provide car seat information and asking about getting ERF information available as well, I haven't really gotten anywhere yet, people dont seem to understand what I am asking about and some people are just downright rude, I'll post any and all findings when I have something to report...otherwise....
To begin to tackle the lack of information provided about ERF in our clinics, courthouses, car seat checks, teen pregnancy centers and day cares I want to know why mothers who currently do not extended rear face, continue not to.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions on the topic and I understand THAT
but as an ERF mother I admittedly don't know why people don't do it as well.
I realize this statement is fairly ignorant, but I would like to change that.
I want to know why you don't ERF.
Is it that you aren't/weren't aware of what extended rear facing was?
Were you told by a care provider to switch your child to forward facing and felt that was best based off of that advice?
Do you/Did you feel that the legal standards for car seats were enough for your child (at least 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds)?
Do you honestly, bluntly, don't think its important or helpful?
Do you feel that car rides are easier when your child is forward facing/do they handle the car ride better that way?
Was the sun shining in your child's eyes and it causes problems and concerns?
I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons out there, but if you can, please comment on this post (feel free to do so anonymously.
I really appreciate the insight!
To begin to tackle the lack of information provided about ERF in our clinics, courthouses, car seat checks, teen pregnancy centers and day cares I want to know why mothers who currently do not extended rear face, continue not to.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions on the topic and I understand THAT
but as an ERF mother I admittedly don't know why people don't do it as well.
I realize this statement is fairly ignorant, but I would like to change that.
I want to know why you don't ERF.
Is it that you aren't/weren't aware of what extended rear facing was?
Were you told by a care provider to switch your child to forward facing and felt that was best based off of that advice?
Do you/Did you feel that the legal standards for car seats were enough for your child (at least 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds)?
Do you honestly, bluntly, don't think its important or helpful?
Do you feel that car rides are easier when your child is forward facing/do they handle the car ride better that way?
Was the sun shining in your child's eyes and it causes problems and concerns?
I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons out there, but if you can, please comment on this post (feel free to do so anonymously.
I really appreciate the insight!
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