Scared or Learning Trust...

Roller Coasters... - Roller Coasters...
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
March 13, 2008 9:00am CST
Recently my Niece told me that she and her class are going to Silver Dollar City and they all want to ride roller coasters. She wanted me to find some roller coaster pics for her on Google so she could see if they are really that scary and we also looked up statistics on how many ppl have died from those types of rides. After we were through, she asked me if I thought it would be safe for her to go on the roller coasters. I told her that it was her own decision but she needed to ask herself something. How much did she trust that the person putting it together, that she didn't know and doesn't know her, didn't screw up and forget a bolt or use inferior equipment. She also needed to decide if she really wanted to put her life in the hands of ppl she didn't know. Certain ones told me I shouldn't have scared her, that I should have reassured her that they are completely safe and encouraged her to go ahead. I think I did the right thing. There are going to be alot of times in her life when she is going to have ask herself how much she trusts someone else. Will she trust the drunk driver b/f to get her home alive? Will she trust the person that knocks on her door in the middle of night wanting to come in and use her phone? Will she trust that nice stranger that offers her a ride? I think she needs to learn to trust her instincts and gut feelings. If she looks a a roller coaster and feels a sense of safety, then do it. But if it makes her nervous, scared or uneasy then I'd rather she trust that then me saying "Go ahead...you won't get hurt". Do you think I was wrong to scare her or right to make her trust herself? !!HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!! **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
7 people like this
7 responses
@Sissygrl (10912)
• Canada
13 Mar 08
That is a hard one to answer!! what did her parents say ? And really how old is she? that would play a part in what i would say.. If she is old enough to understand.. i think you told her the right thing teaching her that she has to make her own disicions about things in her life. You let her into a world of reality instead of letting her believe that everything will just be okay if she puts her life in the hands of others. Did you also tell her though that they do maintenence on those things everyday, or they are supposed to, and that htey run tests to try to make sure that they are safe ? You gotta give both sides of it if your going to "tell her how it is" :)
3 people like this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
13 Mar 08
Her Dad is my oldest Brother and her mom is deceased...he pretty much let's her do what she wants. She's 12 and will be 13 next month. Yes, I told her that they do maintence and there are safety checks but accidents do happen. !!HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!! **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
2 people like this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
13 Mar 08
...happy st. patrick's day... ...at peace within... ...stand strong in your beliefs...
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
13 Mar 08
!!happy st. patrick's day!! **at peace within** ~~stand strong in your beliefs~~
1 person likes this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
13 Mar 08
I can't say that you are wrong or right. However, the message you sent was that you can't trust anyone or anything. If you want to say that about a roller coaster, what about a car? a bus? a chair? She doesn't know anyone who makes those products, yet, she will still ride in a car, a bus, a train, a plane or sit in a chair. I understand the message you were trying to send to her, that she needs to figure out how much she trusts the world around her and to trust your gut feeling. Fear is in our daily lives. If you teach someone to fear everything because they don't know who made the product, we would all be in trouble. It's hard to say what is wrong or right in this situation. You did what you felt was right, there is nothing you can do about it now. She has to make her own decisions. I think I would have handled it a bit differently, but that's me. Riding a roller coaster is risky as anything else in life. It is good that you teach her to trust herself because if anything she doesn't need to live with self doubt.
2 people like this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
13 Mar 08
I don't want her to fear everything but rather to stop and think before she does things. Kids are so impatient that they tend to jump into things and not realize the dangers around them until it's too late. I want her to take the time to make good choices and not rush into things...hopefully I've done that. Thanks for responding!! **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
2 people like this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I think your ok on this situation. I am sure she understands the message you were trying to send her. I think I went to the extreme in my explanation. I am glad that she has a good aunt such as you that cares so much! Not all of us have that. She is a blessed young woman!
2 people like this
@subha12 (18441)
• India
14 Mar 08
i think what you did is ok. you have just made her cautious. younger ones should be guided what they should do and what they should not. after that they are obviously getting chance to check whether what they are doing is true or not.
2 people like this
• United States
14 Mar 08
Wow.. how old is she?. must be in the high school years to be going on a trip like that with her school... i dont know if i would even trust them machines enough to let my daughter go without me to a place like that... I like how you explaind why you said what you said, and i think you are correct... i would havw done the same thing... I do not think you were in the wrong..
@gemini_rose (16264)
13 Mar 08
No you are just being honest with her, if you were to tell her that they were 100 percent safe and no harm will come to her and something did then she would never trust you again, and there is always that tiny percent that is not always safe and it is a risk that we all take going on these rides. But boy they are a fun risk! My kids have asked me before when we have seen films and cartoons where the rides go off the rails and things, and I said to them, that nothing is ever 100 percent but its very rare something goes wrong. If she really wants to go on them she will no matter what anyone says, she will use her own instinct.
• United States
14 Mar 08
She has to make the descion herself if her parents are leaving up to her. No matter what you do...there is always some sort of risk. Driving to the grocery store you could get hit by a random idiot. Walking into a convience store you could be caught in the middle of a robbery. A crazed lunatic could run down the street as your taking a nice stroll and attack you. So many things that could but probably wont happen. Taking chancews is just part of life. She has to learn that.
2 people like this
• United States
15 Mar 08
I think you did the right thing. She does need to learn to go with her own instincts. You are training her to do this. Once this is instilled in her she will be a lot safer.
1 person likes this