4 year old child does his best imitation of an 80 year old driving. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Lockjaw · 02-07-2005, 01:25 PM

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...p/young_driver

Quote:

SAND LAKE, Mich. - A boy drove his mother's car to a video store in the middle of the night, police said — and he's all of 4 years old.

AP Photo

Four-Year-Old Drives Mom's Car to Video Store
(AP Video)

Even though he was unable to reach the accelerator, the boy managed to put the car in gear and the idling engine provided enough power to take him slowly to the store, a quarter-mile from his home, about 1:30 a.m. Friday, Police Chief Doug Heugel said. Finding the store closed, the youngster began a slow trip home.

Weaving and with its headlights off, the car got the attention of police Sgt. Jay Osga, who initially thought he was following a driverless car that had taken off after being left running at a gas pump.

The car turned into the boy's apartment complex and struck two parked cars, then backed up and struck Osga's police car.

That's when Osga discovered the boy inside.

"He knew how to go from forward to reverse," Osga said Monday. "The mother said she taught him how to drive by letting him sit on her lap and steer."

No charges will be filed against the boy or his mother, Heugel said.

"He's 4 years old. His mom didn't even know he was up," Heugel told The Grand Rapids Press. "I don't think he even realizes what he did."

I want to know if the kid actually had some cash on him and if the place had been opened what would he have rented? Guess he had a serious Barney craving.

dirtyrascal7 · 02-07-2005, 01:55 PM

awesome parenting.

Bill O'Rights · 02-07-2005, 01:58 PM

See? This is why we need more 24 hour video stores.

Seriously...that's some damn scary crap. The list of possible scenarios, with disasterous outcomes, boggle the mind. Well...my mind anyhow.

f6twister · 02-07-2005, 02:51 PM

Quote:

"The mother said she taught him how to drive by letting him sit on her lap and steer."

I hope she did this in a farm field somewhere and not on the road!

Quote:

4 year old does his best imitation of an 80 year old driving

In some ways, I actually think he did better.

JumpinJesus · 02-07-2005, 03:03 PM

What movie do you suppose he was going to rent?

rmarshall · 02-07-2005, 03:26 PM

He did alright, considering he couldn't reach the pedals. How was he planning to park? Slam it into "park"? His mother should be proud!

TexanAvenger · 02-07-2005, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f6twister

I hope she did this in a farm field somewhere and not on the road!

I know my dad used to sit me in his lap up until I was about 4 and pretend to let me drive, I thought it was a pretty common thing. And that was in the city, albeit the city was Killeen, Texas...

ShaniFaye · 02-07-2005, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexanAvenger

I know my dad used to sit me in his lap up until I was about 4 and pretend to let me drive, I thought it was a pretty common thing. And that was in the city, albeit the city was Killeen, Texas...

growing up my great grandfather let me do the same thing in one of his old 50's model chevy's.....course this was in the fields on his farm in Athens, GA

I remember I used to feel like such a "big girl"

Lockjaw · 02-07-2005, 10:19 PM

To be honest if that was my son I don't think I could be made. I'd probably go buy him a new toy car and think about making plans for Monaco in about 20 years.

Chamaeleontidae · 02-08-2005, 07:15 AM

I would assume he wasn't buckled up nicely in his child safety seat, while he was learning to drive...

kurtisj · 02-08-2005, 09:46 AM

i wonder if the cop asked for his license and registration...

TheBrit · 02-10-2005, 02:04 PM

To the comments that will ensue and have been made about bad parenting...
The kid can walk and operate a door, it was at night. If a 4 year old wanted to get out of the house without anyone noticing, it wouldn't be hard...

Hash_Browns · 02-10-2005, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBrit

To the comments that will ensue and have been made about bad parenting...
The kid can walk and operate a door, it was at night. If a 4 year old wanted to get out of the house without anyone noticing, it wouldn't be hard...

Especially a 4 yr. old who's never done anything like this before ^^ My kids suprise me all the time and at the same time give me a heartattack when I realize what they've done. It's not like she let him take the car to school every morning.

My Mom used to let me drive our '71 Impala (HUGE BOAT) while on her lap through our trailer park (yup, I spent 2 years in a trailer

) I remember one lady screaming at my mom "Are you crazy, you stupid woman!!" my Mom flipped her off while I took the corner (slowly) was funny at the time.

Now she lets my 5 yr. old drive her truck up north on the side roads (we are talking two trackin' trails) and yes it freaks me out, but I remember how fun it was back in the day and trust my Mom to keep my kids safe.

I'm guessing that this mom learned a few things I have known for a while, keep the keys out of reach and the doors locked (car and house). I'm a Mom and am usually to easy to out other mom's in a bad light if something like this happens, but I have to give her some slack, like I said, she didn't let him take the care to school every morning for him think this was ok and allowed.

tspikes51 · 02-13-2005, 01:43 AM

My mom used to let us sit on her lap and "drive," which was fun. This woman wasn't doing anything wrong, believe me, as a brother of a once 4 year old who could have been on the other side of the world before my mother noticed (he rode his bike about 5 miles to the grocery store one time), I know what they are capable of. Hell, my neighbors' 4 year old backed their old work truck into a pole after I got my license (he thinks that I'm only a couple years older than him and I'm about as cool as the ice age), and they rarely let him out of their sight. Don't blame mom here.

alicat · 02-14-2005, 05:07 PM

I'm in Michigan not too far away and it's been all over our news. Apparently the little boy was grounded off of his video games and thought he would sneek to the store while his mother slept to get a game. The idling engine makes sense, hubby and I couldn't figure at all how he could reach the pedals. Hubby thought maybe he scooted down and floored the gas and climbed back up! I am curious as to how he turned around and headed home if he couldn't reach the brakes. He must have seen that no lights were on in the store and made a u-turn.

No charges were filed but the mother does have to pay a fine on behalf of her "minor" (no shit) child.

And by the way, the game the boy wanted to get......a truck driving one.

Ali

FngKestrel · 02-14-2005, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JumpinJesus

What movie do you suppose he was going to rent?

Raising Arizona?

animosity · 02-14-2005, 07:49 PM

my father did the same thing from age 4-6... he would let go of the wheel and say "grab it or we are going to die"

maybe that is why I didnt get my licence until i was 18....

Amazing story. I am glad the child is ok.

Lockjaw · 02-15-2005, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by animosity

my father did the same thing from age 4-6... he would let go of the wheel and say "grab it or we are going to die"

maybe that is why I didnt get my licence until i was 18....

Amazing story. I am glad the child is ok.

lol Father of the year award winner?

animosity · 02-15-2005, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lockjaw

lol Father of the year award winner?

haha, yea... well that is my dad. This is the same man that was disappointed when I quit smoking pot.

02-07-2005, 01:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	See? This is why we need more 24 hour video stores. Seriously...that's some damn scary crap. The list of possible scenarios, with disasterous outcomes, boggle the mind. Well...my mind anyhow. __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

02-07-2005, 03:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
JumpinJesus Junkie Location: Chicago	What movie do you suppose he was going to rent? __________________ "I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses

02-08-2005, 07:15 AM	#10 (permalink)
Chamaeleontidae aka: freakylongname Location: South of the Great While North	I would assume he wasn't buckled up nicely in his child safety seat, while he was learning to drive... __________________ "Reality is just a crutch for people who can't cope with drugs." Robin Williams.

02-08-2005, 09:46 AM	#11 (permalink)
kurtisj Insane Location: The Wick	i wonder if the cop asked for his license and registration... __________________ Marvin the Mountie Always Gets His Kurtisj.

02-13-2005, 01:43 AM	#14 (permalink)
tspikes51 Fuckin' A Location: Lex Vegas	My mom used to let us sit on her lap and "drive," which was fun. This woman wasn't doing anything wrong, believe me, as a brother of a once 4 year old who could have been on the other side of the world before my mother noticed (he rode his bike about 5 miles to the grocery store one time), I know what they are capable of. Hell, my neighbors' 4 year old backed their old work truck into a pole after I got my license (he thinks that I'm only a couple years older than him and I'm about as cool as the ice age), and they rarely let him out of their sight. Don't blame mom here. __________________ "I'm telling you, we need to get rid of a few people or a million." -Maddox

02-07-2005, 01:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
dirtyrascal7 That's what she said	awesome parenting.

02-07-2005, 03:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
rmarshall Addict Location: Kingston,Ontario	He did alright, considering he couldn't reach the pedals. How was he planning to park? Slam it into "park"? His mother should be proud!

02-07-2005, 10:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lockjaw Junkie	To be honest if that was my son I don't think I could be made. I'd probably go buy him a new toy car and think about making plans for Monaco in about 20 years.

02-10-2005, 02:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
TheBrit Psycho	To the comments that will ensue and have been made about bad parenting... The kid can walk and operate a door, it was at night. If a 4 year old wanted to get out of the house without anyone noticing, it wouldn't be hard...

02-14-2005, 05:07 PM	#15 (permalink)
alicat Baffled Location: West Michigan	I'm in Michigan not too far away and it's been all over our news. Apparently the little boy was grounded off of his video games and thought he would sneek to the store while his mother slept to get a game. The idling engine makes sense, hubby and I couldn't figure at all how he could reach the pedals. Hubby thought maybe he scooted down and floored the gas and climbed back up! I am curious as to how he turned around and headed home if he couldn't reach the brakes. He must have seen that no lights were on in the store and made a u-turn. No charges were filed but the mother does have to pay a fine on behalf of her "minor" (no shit) child. And by the way, the game the boy wanted to get......a truck driving one. Ali __________________ 'Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun, The frumious Bandersnatch!'--Jabberwocky, Lewis Carroll "You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late."--Ralph Waldo Emerson

02-14-2005, 07:49 PM	#17 (permalink)
animosity on fire Location: Atlanta, GA	my father did the same thing from age 4-6... he would let go of the wheel and say "grab it or we are going to die" maybe that is why I didnt get my licence until i was 18.... Amazing story. I am glad the child is ok.