Do you let your children, etc. ride on a lawn mower when you are mowing?  

Yes absolutely but kids haveb to take some risk or they'll not learn - we can't protect them from everything

Well no of course not but there are some risks you have to protect them from and this is one of them I feel. I mean not for all ages, but until they're maybe ten years old.. I would keep 'em away.

Thank you both for your comments. We have to learn to be WISE parents and as parents we need to know when to say NO and enforce it. I think you are both right, we can't always protect them but we do need to keep them safe. Again, Thank you both so much for your comments.

Yes we were the same way when mowing. My kids are with their children too. As parents we need to stand up to our kids for their own safety. There is a time for everything, and riding a mower when your mowing is not a time for kids. Thank you for your reply!

BTW,
She was about 7 to 8 years old, not a baby.
just thought I'd add that.
moonbutters

Oh we have pulled a wagon with the kids in it behind the mower, they picked up sticks. BUT NOT when we were mowing, kids are not allowed out when the mowing. When they got older, 10, they mowed the yard but my husband was right there with them and the mower was in low gear and it was only one kid! I am not saying kids should never ride but not when you are mowing. The danger is to great! Thank you so much for your reply.

Yes,
I suppose you could do that safely if your blades were pulled up , no motion and all.
I'll say something here about my circumstance.
I am a small person, 5'2" and 100 pounds on a wet day. So anyway, when my daughter got around 9 she was about the usuall 80 pounds or so and I would no longer let her "Ride" because I didn't feel it was safe for me to carry both her weight and mine.
So one day I went out to mow, told her to stay on the porch or in the house . She missed Mom and without me seeing her started walking towards me as I was mowing. OMG ( Almost crying now, the memories still hurt) a rock flew ourt from under the mower and hit her forehead. There was a cut and a big limp. We had to rush to the ER to make sure she was OK. A wonder she didn't lose an eye or worse.
So was I wrong in not letting her ? Beacause the normal prcedure at my home was to let her for just a minute. But this time I said no . I have never gotten over that and she still carries a scar today.
I am crying now.
I hope you understand.
moon

I just found this. Didn't know it was here. No I don't think you were wrong in not letting her. The mower throwing the rock is why we always kept the kids in the house. I have basement windows that have been broke from the mower. Here we have a lot of walnuts and the mower throws them. I am so glad that your daughter was not hurt worse. I do understand and I pray that God will give you peace and comfort still.

This little boy that I had wrote about is doing fine and was in church on Easter Sunday! Praise God!

Thank you christmas,

But even today as a grown young woman I still see the scar on her head when I look at her. I don't know if I can ever forget or figure out if I was right or wrong.

moonbutters

Thank you for your response. Getting to be that season and hope that the reminder will keep some children safe. Saddly it is a very common practice if you watch the news, happens a lot. The purpose of this post was to be a reminder and warning to all!

I just got on here to let everyone know that the little boy is doing fine and was in church on Sunday. Praise God.