How many of you dads out there sat your toddler on your lap while driving? Yes, we know in the politically correct world we live in today, this isn’t exactly a “safe” practice, what with accidental airbag deployments and all, but if you’re thinking that, you’re missing the point.
A father’s bonding moments with his child can take many forms. While some take their kids to the park to run around or to a playground to climb into ball pits, others would like to sit in a car and let them fiddle around with buttons and rock the steering wheel.
And that’s just what my boy and I do. For the last 400 meters or so of our daily drive home from playschool, I let my little Collin Maverick sit on my lap. You should see the joy in his eyes as he first reaches for the infotainment system to set his tunes. I then put his hands on the steering wheel’s 9- and 3-o’clock positions. With my hands over his, I teach him to steer left and right and to look far ahead as we do our short drive.
I remember how my dearly departed dad would do the same for me in the ‘70s. And it kind of stuck as a rite of passage as I now pass on my zeal for cars and driving to the next generation.
And this got me thinking, what should we teach our children about driving, motoring, and mobility at this early age? Isn’t it our role as parents to impart knowledge and be the living examples our kids can look up to? We know they can pick up our behaviors and habits and practice these for the rest of their lives.
As we celebrate Father’s Day today, let us dads take an introspective look at ourselves to see if we are teaching these life nuggets to the future drivers who are our kids.
Driving a car is a privilege, not a right
It may be too deep for a toddler or a child to fathom, but constantly reminding them about how blessed they are even to ride and, in the future, drive a car should be as regular as clockwork.
Dads should continually reinforce the fact that we drive at the government’s behest. We all had to learn the necessary skills to operate the car and negotiate traffic before we even dreamt of owning a car. And if they want to drive a vehicle in the future, they should be prepared for the responsibility it entails.
Be better versions of us
We don’t see ourselves driving from a third-person point of view. But you’d be surprised by the behaviors your children can pick up just by observing you behind the wheel.
From how you use or do not use turn signals, to how you change lanes, even your reactions to other drivers who cut ahead of you, our kids will see these little things as “normal.” And if they see us cursing at other drivers, expect them to do the same when they get behind the wheel.
So learn to catch yourself when you do something wrong while driving. And explain to your kid what the right way should be. These are critical formative years for them. What they see now is what they will practice in the future.
Share the road
We have all become so self-centered as we go on with our daily lives that we often forget that cars do not have a monopoly on the road. Everyone is on a journey from point A to point B, and the least we can do is make it easy for all to get to their destinations.
Don’t show your kid that you must always get ahead to get anywhere. That mentality of not giving way and being discourteous to other road users has been perpetuated over generations. And it should stop. We all need to get somewhere. And we will get there faster if we all have the discipline and the restraint to do what is right.
Follow the rules
Road rules are not meant to stifle the progress of your journey. They are there to ensure that you, and everyone around you, get to their destinations safely and in an orderly manner. By teaching your kids the importance of following road signs and lane markings, we can instill in them a culture of discipline that is severely lacking in our generation.
Driving a car is not the be-all and end-all of mobility
Contrary to popular Filipino cultural belief, driving should not be a right of passage kids should aspire to. A car is only a tool to get you places and an expensive one at that. Other forms of mobility are open to our children. There are bicycles, which they will likely learn to ride first before they can even drive. There is cheaper public transport, although less convenient at the moment.
The point is to expose your children to the wonderful world of mobility. Let them walk. Let them ride. Let them commute. Let them see the options the world has to offer.
May this Father’s Day be an opportunity for dads and kids to create special bonds and memories. Dads have an immeasurable role in molding our kids’ futures. Always remember that our kids look up to us, they are our biggest fans, and we are their most significant role models. Spend your precious time with them wisely.
