This picture must have been taken about 1977 or 1978. I’m really hoping that we were just posing for a picture and that my dad wasn’t actually driving the van with me in his lap….
(Not So) Wordless Wednesday: Joy Ride
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My guess is he probably was driving with you on his lap. Blurred background, his eyes concentrating on road. There wasn’t the emphasis on seatbelts and car seats back then as now. My dad once put my brother and me in a trailer he pulled along the expressway! Boy! It was fun–until a cop pulled him over and advised it wasn’t a great idea. Luckily we survived. Drove all the way out west — 5,000 miles in 1959 — no seatbelts — lying in the back of the station wagon. I don’t recommend it today. We were among the lucky ones!
Linda’s probably right. My kids are about your age (gasp!) and the only reason people had car seats back in those days was to keep the kid contained, not necessarily for safety reasons. It sometimes was easier to keep the child contained sitting on your lap. Not something we would ever do today but that’s the way it was back then
I do remember sitting on the middle console thing in the van while we were driving. I would be facing the other direction – it was kind of a weird sensation. You guys are right – I don’t remember wearing seatbelts much when I was little.
I remember taking my little sister (who is about 10 years older than you) places in the car after I got my drivers license. She would stand right beside me so she could see out. When I had to stop, I’d put my arm in front of her to keep her from tumbling forward.
Those of us who had kids in the late 50s and early 60s did
not have seat belts for them — we did in the front seat. Our
three kids had free rein in the back of the station wagon
altho my husband did put the suitcases at the very back to
protect them if we had had a rear ender!!! I even brought
all three home from the hospital in my arms in the front seat!
Wonder how we all survived!
You were an adorable child!
One of my favorite childhood memories is of sitting on my dad’s lap while he drove the truck. Ahh the 70′s. Good times.
Oh yeah, Shaz, riding home from the hospital in mama’s arms was just expected back in “my” day (and my girls were born in the mid to late 70′s). And nursing while a passenger in the front seat wasn’t out of line, either.
The interesting thing is that there are people in countries all over the world that still do that! We have friends here from Kazakhstan and we had to explain to them that everyone had to be in a seat belt and the kids had to have car seats. They just ride on laps over there!
Love your picture. Your Dad looks so young and I bet he was driving. My kids can’t believe we never wore seatbelts when we were kids. It is hard to believe now.