Your imperfections as a human being don’t immediately vanish the moment you conceive, birth or adopt a child. On the contrary, you probably just become more acutely aware and self-conscious of your bad, unhealthy or irresponsible habits once your life becomes about more than just yourself. Hopefully you curb some the bad stuff you do for your own sake as well as your child, but if wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.
Speaking of riding, I’m continually trying to be better about not using my phone while driving. I realize that nothing is as important as the safety of the children in my car, not to mention the safety of everyone else on the road. That being said, I’d be lying if I told you I was an angel.
RELATED: How Can We Convince Our Kids to Stop Texting and Driving?
I do text, read or email while driving on occasion. I definitely do it less than I used to, but unless that number is zero, no one needs to tell me that I’m still failing miserably. Texting and driving is just as bad as drinking and driving (and if you’re like me, then you know how easily you can swerve over the double yellow lines in the second it takes to simply reply “yes” or “no” to a text — as easily as you veer unsteadily after one too many merlots).
The fact remains that just because the guy in the commercial cheated death once … there’s no telling when it might happen.
Thankfully, though, what I won’t do is get behind the wheel after I’ve had too much to drink. There’s no better or worse way to kill yourself, your kids or someone else and their kids in your car. Whether you crash after posting a status update on Facebook or consuming too many beers after work, at least feel some relief in knowing that there’s at least one deadly habit to which I will never have to lay claim.
This new responsible drinking advertisement from Budweiser will have your heart pounding with dread at what the outcome might be. And while you might shed a tear of relief at the ending, the fact remains that just because the guy in the commercial cheated death once by not crashing after drinking (or texting), there’s no telling when it might happen. Because if the statistics tell us anything, if you keep doing it, chances are it will.
RELATED: 7 Reasons I Don't Own a Cellphone
Sear the look of adoration and love on the Budweiser dog’s face in your mind. And then replace that sweet puppy’s face with that of your kid’s or someone else’s. The fact is that the second you’re old enough to drive, whether you’re a parent, a dog owner or just responsible for yourself, you still need to be responsible for all of the other parents, kids and dog owners out there by being as alert and un-distracted as possible while you’re on the road.
