Ok all.....this might just be a little off subject for this forum but I had to tell somebody. Ive been riding dirtbikes since I was about 7 years old, I am now 32. Just in the past 5 years or so have I switched to the ATV, which I really enjoy!!! The switch was made because my children were going to be reaching the age soon where they would probably want to start getting involved in the sport; and I figured the ATV would be the best bet to get the whole family involved in.
Today was wreck day.... my son is 8 years old and he and I were doin laps around the outside of a baseball diamond. I guess to him it was a big race... lol.... so I played the role. Back and forth we went. He would lead a lap then I would pass him...so on and so forth. Now for all of you that have ever riddin an E-Ton 90 you know they are a great quad and can really haul some bootey... especially for an 8 year old. But anyhow, we were coming up to the last turn on what would be the long run to the finish line and I was in the lead. Then from out of the blue, I see him out of the corner of my eye going what had to be wide open. Knowing there was know way he could make the corner going that fast I hit my breaks hoping he would realize that he had the lead and would slow down a bit. But you all know what happened dont ya.. LOL
He hit the corner tryin to make the turn but didnt. It was a valiant effort but momentum had the better of him and the quad and he flipped. My heart hit the top of my throat and it hurt worse than any wreck or broken bone I have ever felt!!! All I could see was my son flyin through the air w/ the quad bouncin right behind him and there was nothin I could do!!!! He hit the ground and the quad landed on him from about 4-5 feet in the air, then bounce off. It all happened in slow motion, evan as I think about it now.
He jumped up right after it bounced off him. I ran up to him and in my amasement he didnt look hurt!!! I asked him if he was ok and he said yes. I never felt so relieved in my life. But in my relief came anger!!!! For some reason instead of bein the cool dad; like I always said I would in my younger years, I started yellin at him for makin such a bone head move.. after a few minutes went buy I realized what I was doin and stopped. I hate the fact that I treated him that way. If it were anyone elses child it would have been no big deal. I would have told him what he did wrong and went on. But it was my son, and all I could see has him gettin hurt really bad and it scared me to the point of anger.
After we got home I tried to explain to him why I was screamin and apologized for it. My worst nightmare has just come true!!! Ive turned into a dad!!!! Not the cool one that I always said I would be, but the one that we all knew growin-up!!! I guess my point to all the younger people that may read this long story is that I hope you would cut your father some slack when he does stupid crap like this. I guarantee that most of the yelling is because he is scared for ya. Sorry it was so long and somewhat meaningless. Just had to tell someone... lol.
P.S. GO COLTS!!!!!!!!

 

First I would like to say that I am glad your kid is alright

Secondly I am one of the youngings that are still livin with his parents (untill next yer when I go to college) and I dont think I have ever been yelled at when it ame to wrecks. The worst thing that has came is the fear of what my dad would say when he found out...but all he said was "are you alright" and of course I would tell him yes (no broken bones in my life yet) and then he would say that is all that matters and if anything broke no big deal. I guess I got one of them "cool dads" lol

just remeber to ride safe and keep the rubber side down

 

Glad to hear your kid is ok. I am one of the young ones and i will take that into consideration next time it happens thanks

 

IndyPred, We sound so similar it's scarry. Same age, kids around the same age, even have an eton90.lol
And to be honest the same reactions at times. I also watched in horror as my boy (7yr old he rides the lt80) lost control of his quad and went flying down a sand dune. Watched it in slow motion, (still do sometimes) as it flipped and rolled over him. Thank god it was sand and he was ok. The only thing different now is I stop and think how I should handle it before I say anything. I used to just fly off the handle, but I heard my father in me as well and did not like it then or now.
I am glad your boy is OK. I also am glad you and he both probably learned from the experience.

 

Indypred,

I'm glad to hear that your kid is ok. If you are taking the time to ride with your son, then you are already the cool dad. As you already know, most kids don't come with a manual. And nothing in life truly prepares us for those times in life like you mentioned today. Hopefully you and your son both learned valuable lessons today. He will probably slow down a little more in the corners and you will probably try to handle the situation in a more positive manner (based upon what you said in your post). No matter how hard you try, there will be times when you feel you could have handled the situation better, caring for someone sometimes gets the better of you though. If someone's dad didn't yell at them for something once in a while, then their dad wasn't there or probably didn't really care.
I know there are a few exceptions to the rule, however I've only met a few people in my life who's dad didn't climb their tree once in a while. The more time you spend with your kid and the older he gets you will better understand each other. Relationships that are strong, can take a hit here and there without permanent damage. Here is a story that you may be able to relate to:

About 13 yrs ago, I was 17 and my brother was 13. We were normally very good about checking in with our dad and always letting him know where we were. If we were late or did not show up shortly after we said we would be somewhere, it was normally a sign of trouble. Well, my brother and I decided to go seine for minnows, etc 5 or 6 miles from the house. We ended up not going to where we said we would and instead tried a different pond. At the different pond, we ended up burying the ramcharger in some pretty deep mud. Only being 2-3 miles from the house we should have walked home and got some help. Not wanting to get in trouble for getting the vehicle stuck, we labored away for hours. Long story short, our dad had expected us back within 2 hours max and we had been gone for 4-5 hours between the seining and trying to get the vehicle unstuck. We were making progress but it was slow. Well as parents do, my dad thought the worst had happened and went looking for us. We were not where we said we be and he become more frantic. He looked for about three hours before he found us out in the muddy area by the pond. We he found us, he was pissed and I don't mean like kinda upset- but seriously mad. His emotions got the better of him, he really thought something terrible had happened to us for the three hours he was looking up and down the roads and in fields etc. Although I was getting one of the worst @ss chewings of my entire life, the whole time my father was yelling there were tears in his eyes. I had no doubt that he loved us dearly, he was just scared sh@tless of what he thought had happened. His harsh words that day were forgiven the minute they were said. I learned a few things that day though: One, next time go for help if it feasible (and it was), two, try to be where you say you are going to be if someone may have to come look for you and most importantly how much my Dad really cared. In my 17yrs (at the time) my Dad had never exhibited an ounce of fear of anyone or anything, but possibly losing his children truly scared him. I wouldn't trade my Dad for anything.

 

That's almost like a greeting card. Really! I got all teary eyed reading it. I can just see it now "Chicken Soup for the Quad Riders Soul". Just so you know it's my idea, so if it happens I get some royalties. lol [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Glad to hear he's OK. I raised my nephew and he did something similar. After I saw he was OK, I rode his butt pretty hard too. After we got back to the house and I settled down, I explained why I was mad. Both of us relaized what could have happened. You're son is probrably like my nephew and he'll understand why you got upset. About 2 years later he hit a tree on my quad. Made him pay for a new bumper and chewed on him a little more. The next week I hit the same tree and bent my a-arm and a-arm shaft. Nothing like eating crow.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

HAHAHAHA you watching the game!!!!!!!!! patriots whooping some ***!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO PATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1



glad your kid is ok... its musta been pretty sh!tty watching him crash like that... but you helled because you love em... sounds odd... but its true...

 

Hozed said it right......GO PATS !!!

 

I think to colts are still in KC... LOL