Broke the law, we did

Yesterday afternoon I was picking up Joey from preschool before going next door to the elementary school to get his brothers, a Monday afternoon routine we follow whenever catechism is scheduled.

Although the buildings are next to each other, there is a fence that separates them, making it necessary for me to drive onto the main road a very short distance to get to the school. As I am waiting to turn left to turn north at the intersection, Joey picks that moment to get out of his booster seat for whatever reason. While I am telling him to get back in his seat and repeating what I have heard myself say too man times to count how it is the law that they are seated and buckled, I notice the police cruiser at the lights, waiting for it to turn green so it can head south.

Of course, Joey was seen, just as he spotted the police car, which I told him was probably going to pull me over because he wasn't in his seat where he should have been. Sure enough, didn't the cruiser pull a U-turn and come up behind me at the intersection where I was turning left into the school parking lot.

Joey is speechless. How many times have I told them that at any time I could be pulled over because they are breaking the law? And here are my words, coming to life right before his wide eyes. I am actually glad I got pulled over because I am hoping it will send a strong message to the boys about the rules and what happens when they are broken. Plus, I am sure I won't get a ticket, but merely a warning from the officer.

When he asks if I know why he pulled me over, I answer him, noting the name on his badge and that he was the same officer who happened to be driving by that fateful day in August when Koda was hit and I had flagged him down to pull over. "Yes, I realize they need to be buckled. I just came from KBC to here and this was the closest location for me to be able to even pull over to secure my child, which happens to be where I am headed anyway. I'm actually glad you pulled me over because maybe now they will take me seriously about the issue," I tell him.

"The fact that you might get pulled over isn't the reason you should have them buckled," he answers me. No kidding? As if I take the chance all the time and let them wander around the inside of the van with the hope that I won't ever get caught.

"I have them buckled for their safety, of course", I say with just a hint of sarcasm because how dare he insult me? "I'm just saying that I tell them all the time that this could happen and now it has."

Joey and Jeffrey, meanwhile, don't say a word, but their eyes say a lot.

As I predicted, he lets me go with a warning. I drive on to the school to get the boys, who think I forgot about them because I am now late.

So. Imagine how glad I was that I renewed my license just three days prior!