Car Rides

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I have a question....I'm curious to know how other families deal

with communication on car rides with young children that have to sit

in the back seat. I do an insane amount of driving with Zahra, to

school, classes, doctors, etc. We're in the car an average of three

hours a day and we're in LA traffic. You never know when a fifteen

minute ride will take an hour. You can imagine my headache! Zahra

wears aids but in order to clearly communicate with her I either

have to turn around so she can see my mouth and hear my voice

clearly or I have to reach back and attempt to sign. Either way it's

a dangerous distraction. I try my best to tell her to wait until I

come to a stop, but she's young and she gets frustrated when she's

trying to tell me something. I feel bad because she wants an

immediate response as would anyone, but we just can't chat back and

forth unless I'm facing her. I've tried to occupy her time with lots

of books, hand held computers, drawing pads, she even has a little

desk that attaches to her seat. I make sure she always has water and

snacks, but that doesn't stop her from wanting to tell me about the

book she's reading, or the game she playing, or to show me her

drawings. I also use a mirror so that I can sign without turning

around but it is still taking my eyes off the rode. I've asked

around and everyone tells me to put a DVD in the car. I hesistate

because I don't want to turn my daughter into a media zombie.

However I need to figure something out, because not only is it

dangerous, but it is mentally and emotionally wearing me out. The

traffic out here is so horrific, coupled with a frustrated child,

I'm going to lose my mind.

Got any ideas?

Thanks,

Apryl