I've got a new obsession. Seat belts. I think everyone should use them. I especially think that children should be in the backseat and buckled in.

Yesterday morning I wanted to yell at a dad driving a pretty nice car down the street: Hey, you! Buckle your child up when you're in the car. You may think that you're a good driver (and not think you are a bad driver) but not everyone else is. So use the seat belt!

I realize that safety standards are different in the States than many other countries and that many American parents worry needlessly about a 100 different things each hour that don't cross the minds of Bulgarian parents. We're crazy in the States about safety, allergies, germs, diseases and even things like organic snacks.

But really, you're killing me.<!--more-->

Every time I see a child not buckled in my heart breaks. It takes almost no time. I believe that seat belts save lives.  Um, yes. There is a whole public safety campaign with this slogan and I just shamelessly stole it from them. But it's good. Buckle up for safety.

It's easy. Really, easy. It only takes a minute (or less).  And I think that you should be doing it every time. Lord knows, I've seen the drivers in this country, the quality of the streets, the attention (or lack there of) to traffic laws not to mention the two headed monsters driving around and backing their trucks into brick walls.

Oh wait. I think that last one it's from a different stage of my life. Yep. Sure enough. There are a number of seat belts skits from Sesame Street which may also help me to further my case and support my obsession.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3Jy1gMWHfA]

Hey, you. Buckle up your seat belt. And your child's.

Do. It okay?!

You make me nervous. You make me worry about your children. And you make me think (because culturally I've been trained to think this) that you're being negligent. You're not protecting your child.