Now don't get me wrong, I am absolutely in favour of car seats for babies and toddlers.
But having recently undertaken a lengthy car journey with a Tiny Person in a very constraining car seat, I mused at
length on my own children's travels in the dark ages, when car seats were not obligatory.
Dad would pile the kids and various friends into the back of the car with toys and books, and off we would go. There in the back seat we would read, play maths games which helped everyone extensively, play 'I Spy', 'Hinky Pinky', 'Cricket',
License Plate Numbers' , Tic, tac Toe, 'Hic, Hac, Hoc', 'Twenty Questions' and 'I'm Going on a Picnic'.....
There were no devices !!
We would also pack the faithful Barbies with their extensive wardrobes that the little girls would spend hours dressing
and undressing, there were plenty of My Little Ponies, dinkies and card games too.
When we had the combi (minibus) Dad would make the entire back of the combi into a giant bed, with the suitcases
underneath a thin mattress for support, and the kids could play, sleep or enjoy the scenery as we travelled.
There was still plenty of that tireless question 'How Much Longer' but certainly time fled by.
'Padkors' was carefully planned !! (Padkors is the Afrikaans word for 'Road Food') and Mum spent many hours planning
delicious treats for travellers. Cold sausages, carrot sticks, hard boiled eggs, peanut butter sandwiches, a thermos of
coffee and off we would venture.
Yes, there were still squabbles, but at least one could move around instead of being tied to one spot, and one spot
only, for hour after hour. Seat belts, car seats were not obligatory in the Olden Days!!
I know the laws are there for very good reason, that car seats for babies and toddlers have saved countless lives, I am
just glad that I was able to experience and enjoy, unfettered toddler travel way back in the Dark Ages!