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Dashboard Confessions Giveaway: Oops I Dinged it Again
May 16, 2008
You're driving along, hands at 10 and 2, eyes on the road, fully caffienated even, and then your kid does something really cute. Or hits their sibling. And next thing you know you have scraped a section of wall in the preschool parking lot with the side of your brand new SUV.
Driving while parenting has its caveats. Tell us in the comments below about your latest es-scrape-pade and enter to win a one of a kind Billboard Bag from Dadgear worth $99. The contest closes next Friday at 11 pm PST.
If you're a dude you can fill it with stuff to keep the kids busy/quiet and if you are a girl, maybe your man will forgive the damage when you hand him his new Dadbag. Funny entries may be re-published, one random entry will win.
Note: because these bags are all one-of-a-kind (much like your dings), the bag you win will not look exactly like the one pictured.
in | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Dashboard Confessions, | by Ciaran Blumenfeld | Giveaways | Permalink |
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Previous Reader Opinions...
I recently was dropping my daughter off at the park with her babysitter. I needed to pull into the neighboring gas station but I missed it. I promptly reversed to pull in but bumped right into the white City of Boston flower pot edging the property. I dented the plastic and had tons of white scratches on my car. Needless to say, hubby wasn't too happy.Posted by: Jill | May 16, 2008 11:52 AM
Oh I have a good one for this. So I was 9 months preggo with #2 and running a quick errand with #1. I was definitely having a particularly rushed moment when I was pulling into a parking space... out of the corner of my eye I saw that I *thought* was a child running randomly in the parking lot.Out of gut instinct, I quickly swerved to avoid hitting him, and rammed right into the Jeep in the parking spot next to mine. Completely dented the front bumper of my car (fortunately did almost no damage to the Jeep)
So the "child" turned out to be a shopping bag blowing in the wind. I waited around for the owner of the Jeep - who turned out to be a middle-aged guy who took pity on me and didn't ask for any $. He was so concerned over my big belly that I think he was too nervous I was going to go into labor to be mad! Lucky for me but DH was pretty ticked off!
Posted by: whitney | May 16, 2008 5:29 PM
I was pregnant with #2 and we were living in an apartment with a ridiculously small parking lot. I was pulling in and making a sharp turn into the very end spot when DD1 screamed. I looked back to see what was wrong and tried to stop at the same time, but apparently I was too slow because and as I turned I heard the front driver side scrape against something. Well, that something was actually DH's car. Yes, I managed to scrape up BOTH of our vehicles in one shot. And DD screamed because she dropped her bear, clearly deserving of all the fuss. I got upstairs and told DH that someone hit his car. When he ran outside he was not very amused to learn it was ME!Posted by: Anne | May 16, 2008 6:38 PM
I'm lecturing my tween on the importance of seat belts..and how they are to protect her against the crazy drivers...and then bam into the rear of someone at a turn cuz I wasn't paying attention...only minor damage..but my tween still hasn't let me get away with this one 3beez at bellsouth dot netPosted by: julie | May 17, 2008 1:07 AM
i hit a deer which totally freaked out the childran it was a terrible sight for themPosted by: susan varney | May 17, 2008 2:55 AM
wish I had one, never happened to me.Posted by: Adrienne Gordon | May 17, 2008 3:40 AM
I have two sons, both 2 1/2 years apart. It seems that whenever I would drive with them in the car, that both would start to annoy each other and start the "Mom he hit me bit" and I kept telling them to knock it off. We were coming up to a red light, with cars in line, and they both continued with thier fighting. Not fully paying attention, I tapped the car in front of me. Both boys became so quiet. The other driver came over and seeing that there was no damage and hearing what had happened, he laughed and said he understood, that he was a Dad of young kids too. This man talked to the boys about no fighting in a car, how it was dangerous,etc. Since that day, the boys really watch the fighting, while in the car. Maybe it has something to do with that day, or maybe that our family recently increased with a baby sister and if they're too loud, they wake their sister, who is a loud crier. lol Whatever, something got to them and they try to control theirselves in our car now.Posted by: Margaret Smith | May 17, 2008 4:09 AM
Would love to win this!Posted by: Donna Coughlin | May 17, 2008 4:53 AM
I cant narrow it down to one instance! My 3 year old has the ability to start talking to me or catch my attention with something every time I try to park next to a curb or one of those big stopper things and Im constantly bumping into them. Being pregnant with #2 Im sure its only going to get worse!!Posted by: Casey H | May 17, 2008 7:03 AM
My mom and I were driving with my 3 children, when suddenly she drove off the road into a ditch and narrowly missed a power pole. A car was speeding directly toward us on the wrong side of the street, and she reacted quickly. We were all shaken up and the car had to be towed, but fortunately nobody was hurt. I love that diaper bag!Posted by: Susan C | May 17, 2008 7:34 AM
When DS was about 18 months old, I was driving over an overpass. Up ahead I saw a green light, so I kept going. Unfortunately, the light for my intersection was red. I saw it too late. If I hadn't slowed down, I might have avoided the person coming on the on-ramp. But instead I plowed right in to her. I couldn't find anywhere to safely turn around, so I had to continue over the overpass, pull into the mall and get turned around. I think the girl was getting ready to call in a "hit and run" when I returned.Posted by: Julie J Donahue | May 17, 2008 8:49 AM
I had a minor crunch. Seatbelts prevented injuries.Posted by: Linda Lansford | May 17, 2008 9:33 AM
My daughter yelled when the train crossing lights started dinging and it scared the heck out of me. In a panic I backed up and right into a car.Posted by: JONI CHADWELL | May 17, 2008 9:56 AM
A person rearended me with the kids in the car; they were quite shaken up, despite the fact it was only a small bumb that led to very little damage. They always make sure to tell me to drive safe now (they must not get the concept of "it wasn't my fault!" LOL)Posted by: E. Cooper | May 17, 2008 9:57 AM
I was stuck in traffic for 5 hours with 2 little kids. Good thing I had some toys with with me.Posted by: Amanda | May 17, 2008 10:26 AM
Um, I don't have any great ones but I did walk into a car once...I cut up my leg real bad!Posted by: Autumn Howard | May 17, 2008 11:31 AM
Thankfully I haven't had any scrapes with the kids in the car! My husband has taught our daughter some heckling skills. Whenever we're grumbling about other drivers, she yells "Lady, my three year old daughter can drive better than you! And she can't even drive!" and it makes us all laugh...Posted by: Naomi | May 17, 2008 1:24 PM
My last fender bender was last year when my little boy was inside my tummy. The doctor had called my cell while I was on a traffic induced road to give me some blood results and as I reached down to grab a pen the car in front of me suddenly stopped and BOOM. Luckily baby and I were fine but boy oh boy my heart was pounding.Posted by: Stephanie V | May 17, 2008 4:00 PM
Wow!!Posted by: James Jenkins | May 18, 2008 4:42 AM
I had both of my kids in the front seat because the car was so crowded. My youngest said he heard a whirring sound but I thought he was bluffing so I kept going. Next thing you know, our car makes a sudden SCREECHING noise and i hit the accelerator by accident and we smash right into a car. We were all alright thankfully.Posted by: Alka | May 18, 2008 10:41 AM
I am trying to referee a fight between my 6 and 3 year old and at the same time u-turning out of a driveway and as I reverse I crash into a parked car. Of course, the arguing ceases and things turn very silent in the car. . .Posted by: deborah | May 18, 2008 1:07 PM
I had a guy try to squeeze around me to go into the left turn lane. He hit the left rear side of my car but didn't stop. He scrapped all the way up the side of my car and tried to run the light but the traffic was too heavy. When the police came they charged him with all kinds of stuff including 3 counts of reckless endargement of a child because of my 3 kids who were in the back seat. Thankfully, we were ok except my arm was hurt. I was in a sling for a little while.Posted by: P Hafner | May 18, 2008 6:20 PM
Several years ago I had a blow out and hit the car next to me, ended up spinning uncontrollably....ended up in the divider section of the freeway facing the wrong way. No injuries thankfully. But a totalled car.Posted by: Kirsten | May 18, 2008 6:22 PM
It was July of 2008 and I was taking my two young sons to their Grandmother's house. My mom was having her second surgery and I need to be at the hospital for her! My oldest was buckled in the passenger seat and my younger son in his car seat in the second row. Our car was a 1990 Dodge Caravan. I turned on my left blinker while waiting in the right lane to make my left turn! I checked my rear view mirror and could see this big white van was going to fast to stop behind me. There was nothing I could do! A car was coming in the left lane and so I couldn't make my turn or get out of the way! He hit us full force from behind, sending us across the highway, hitting a telephone pole and near a huge ditch full of water. Our airbags went off and the glass in the whole back of the van broke. The first thing I did was check my sons. To make a long story short. We were all okay and the only real physical scars were seat belt ones~! My in-laws came and took the boys and my husband came from work to take me to the hospital for my mom's surgery. CindiPosted by: Cindi | May 18, 2008 9:26 PM
The first time we pulled my then new car into the garage the carseat base fell and left a nice dent in the hood, it is still therePosted by: Noreen | May 18, 2008 10:11 PM
I am terrified to drive on bridges over water and yet, I lived by the bay. It was a day to day must do and still I was terrified. One day, the pickup in front of us with loose debris let flying out of the cab 2 large black trashbags; which blew right on my windshield, driver AND passenger side. Right on the bridge! Right over water! My worst fear! My then 8 year old hung his head out the window and navigated my path as I was pretty much frozen in fear!!! Dad would love this bag!!Posted by: cheryl kelly | May 19, 2008 6:46 AM
This bag is soooo cute I muct have it :)Posted by: Heather Luden | May 19, 2008 6:48 AM
Wow what a great loking bag. I have come to the point of avoiding watching the news because there are too many reckless driving accidents.Posted by: Evelyn | May 19, 2008 7:29 AM
My baby's daddy hit the McDonald's drive-thru sign a few months ago because our 2 year old just started screaming 'OK!' out of nowhere. Thanks so much for the opportunity.Posted by: misty wright | May 19, 2008 10:13 AM
My favorite pastime to do while driving in the car with my baby and 2 young toddlers is to sing. I don't mean just a little humming along to a song, but singing from the heart and well, sort of belting out a song! It was an ordinary day, no bad weather or anything, about 2 months ago and I was driving on my way to drop off 2 of my children at daycare and I had the baby in the carseat and I was singing away and all of a sudden this bird just came out of nowhere and flew right into the windshield right in front of me. The sound of the bird slamming into the windshield nearly scared me to death, literally! I must have screamed so loud, and the kids all started to cry, even I was on the brink of tears and I lost, only for a second, control of the car and ALMOST ran into the cars in the oncoming lane. To this day I still shake when I think about it. It was the scariest moment of my life, to think I almost could have killed our children. Lord knows what happened to that BIRD! I don't know how it could have survived, but I never looked back once I got my composure and was able to drive again. That's my driving story and my words of advice - look out for flying BIRDS!Posted by: Joanna Smith | May 19, 2008 1:32 PM
WHat a great bag to carry all of the knick knacks to keep the kids happy. THis would be just the deal!Posted by: R Hicks | May 20, 2008 1:53 PM
The last event I had was when when taking my kids to Chuck E. Cheese and I was opening my door and a car pulled in and opened my door ALL the way. Even though her car was within my parking space to hit my door, nobody got a ticket. I did have a camera with me so I took pictures but it really didn't help. You know, that lovely no fault insurance.... This bag is gosh ding cute!Posted by: Elizabeth M. | May 20, 2008 4:02 PM
I had just picked my oldest daughter up at daycare and after strapping her in and starting to pull out of the parking lot she let out a scream so loud and was yelling blood blood. In the process of being startled and trying to see where she was bleeding and get stopped I hit the dumpster denting the fender of my 3 week old car. Only to discover she was not covered in blood but red wax from the crayon she had dropped in her carseat that morning. It took me 15 minutes to convince her she was not bleeding and 30 to try and sooth my not happy hubby when I got home. Love the bag.Posted by: Tracie | May 21, 2008 9:22 AM
I was reaching backward trying to put my son's pacifier in his mouth and I drove directly into a parked car. Way to go, Mom.Posted by: Kristyn Martin | May 21, 2008 10:08 AM
I love the bag I haven't been in a accidentPosted by: trudee carreiro | May 21, 2008 12:27 PM
Would love to win this!Posted by: Max | May 21, 2008 4:13 PM
I wish I could say I was pregnant at the time but no, after backing out of the driveway and pulling back in as I forgot something in the house, I pull the car into the driveway and check the front passenger seat to make sure I only forgot the one thing and BAM! I nudge (or as my husband says 'hit") the house with our SUV as I forgot to put the car in park! ooops! I waited two days before telling hubby, parking the SUV real close to the house so he wouldn't notice.Posted by: Robin | May 21, 2008 5:01 PM
I was under major stress trying to pay my daughters dance costume bill (over $700). I kept thinking of ways to come up with the money, I had my daughters in the back seat arguing. Next thing I know, I banged into a stopped car. Smashed my front end, was so upset! I have never caused an accident before, ugh. Luckily the lady I hit had a van & it only got a tiny little scratch. My car not so lucky :(Posted by: Ginny | May 21, 2008 5:18 PM
I was riding in the car with my then husband and 3 little kids - 5, 6 and 8 - when all of a sudden his girlfriend and their infant hit us! She had been chasing us down the road. Oh yeah, and I didn't even know that was is baby!Posted by: Rose Roberts | May 22, 2008 1:10 AM
I haven't had any scrapes with the kids in the car-I just put up with their fighting!Posted by: Vicki Wurgler | May 22, 2008 7:32 AM
Ahhhh this one I love. It was early one morning..I was off to a Motivational Speakers Seminar. I couldn't wait..but first I had to get gas..when it was 1.50/gal. I was off in my own world with my daughter by my side. We love going to things together. We both jumped in the car after getting us some food to take with us. Off we go..well so I thought..I went right over the red iron pipes at the end of the gas pump..wham..I am thinking what is that..well..I will keep on driving..no you don't do that because your car ends up with a iron pipe stuck underneath you half way down your car now your stuck..oh my what to do..ahhhh some southern gentlemen...wait are they.there laughing at me...but gentlemen they are..they come over to see if they could help...Uhhh DUUUHHH..I guess so..I have a iron pipe stuck under the middle of my car...fortunately with their manly skills they get my car off the pipe with only a few dents and scrapes all the way down my car...and after much apologizing to the owner of the service station off to the seminar I go. My daughter in tow. Uh Oh..now what do I tell my husband..Posted by: CONNIE OWENS | May 22, 2008 8:15 AM
We were coming out of the hardware, going to the car. A man was waiting for us, showed me where he had backed into my car, and was getting ready to exchange insurance cards, etc...(whatever it is you do when you have a fender bender) and I told him to forget it. (His car had no damage and mine only had a big smudge/rub mark). He couldn't believe I didn't care. I told him, I couldn't see it when I was driving, so I was sure it wouldn't bother me. I wanted to be nice, he was upset.Posted by: Paula Harmon | May 22, 2008 1:14 PM
We were trying to find the "Annie" CD to play while we would be driving. A car backed into our van while we were parked in the grocery store parking lot. No damage, thankfully, but we all understood how important it was to drive and not have Dad search for missing items while driving.Posted by: Ed Nemmers | May 22, 2008 2:54 PM
Well, I just did this the other day. My daughter loves it when my husband takes here somewhere in "the old pick up truck" that he uses on weekends and to haul stuff in and I of course only drive a little camry... But anyway we needed to go to the corner store and my daughter wanted to go in the truck so I said "what the hey!" We went to the store and on the way back down our street we were behind the mailman so I decided to pull up to our mailbox and let my daughter roll down the window and get the mail. Of course I ran into the mailbox and what would have made me laugh any other time, with me being 7 mos pregnant made me cry, which made my daughter cry. My daughter told my husband about it and he laughed it off, and I finally did too. Until I went to get the mail the next day, opened the box and there was a sign from the mailman telling me that my mailbox was not to code and it needed replaced. Cried again! No more truck driving for me.Posted by: Alana | May 22, 2008 3:22 PM
I had a fender bender when I was driving my god-daughter to a movie. Of course that is the FIRST thing she told her mom when we got home!Posted by: Chrysa | May 22, 2008 8:27 PM
Haven't had one and knock on wood, won't!Posted by: kiyana | May 22, 2008 10:38 PM
dont have one :(Posted by: kathy pease | May 23, 2008 7:03 AM
There was the 2 accidents in one day. We got hit from behind and then after only 2 blocks, got hit from a different car from the side.Posted by: Brooke | May 23, 2008 7:31 AM
i hit a state troopers car 2 days after getting my licensePosted by: william causey | May 23, 2008 9:25 AM
When learning to drive I backed out of a parking lot and hit the car next to me . . . I was 15 . . .Posted by: * * ALiesa * * | May 23, 2008 9:48 AM
Taking my teen-ager to an after school program. While waiting to make a left turn. Another driver passed a car coming up from behind me, who was slowing down. He didn't realize I was stopped, their was oncoming traffic. He rear ended a back quarter panel. Please enter me, thank youPosted by: Debbie Criss | May 23, 2008 10:26 AM
I turned around to tell my two year old to stop whining in the backseat while I was backing out of our garage, as I turned to face her, I also turned the steering wheel, taking a nice chunk of drywall out of the garage and smashing the drivers side fender. Sheesh.Posted by: Tammy | May 23, 2008 12:05 PM
I was at a stop sign trying to turn onto a busy street that is hard to see unless you creep up pretty far into the street. I saw all of the cars speeding past, so decided to back up. I didn't look and backed right into another car behind me. Each driver got out of the car to acess the damage and when she saw how many kids were in my car, she quickly said, "everything is fine with my car, have a nice day". I was really lucky.Posted by: Renee Turner | May 23, 2008 12:52 PM
My fender benders have happened in my own yard with my own vehicles and no injuries.Posted by: Janet | May 23, 2008 2:11 PM
Was 8 and 1/2 months pregnant when I was stopped in traffic at a red light. Could see a truck barreling up behind me and looking like it would not stop. It didn't and he rear ended me. When I got out of the car you should have seen the look on his face. I went to work that night and found out he was the supervisors brother. I was fine as were my other two kids. He was so scare because I was pregnant.Posted by: Rosanne Morrison | May 23, 2008 4:24 PM
I took my three kids and two neighbor kids to the library. I parked right in front of a lightpost to be sure I could spot the car coming out. Got everyone strapped in and settled, put the car in first, turned around to watch as I backed out, and drove straight into the post. BIG dent (but luckily no one was hurt at all).Posted by: Gaye McGill | May 23, 2008 7:08 PM
The funniest with the trendiest scare came when a patrolman pulled me over; to say that animals would not be given a citation if in a seatbelt; but a child unfastened would be. My four year old was waving in the back windshield to the highway patrol and had put the dog in his seatbelt. ThanksPosted by: sarah woods | May 23, 2008 7:12 PM
This one isnt totally recent.. but the last close call I had was in our last moving adventure.. We had the uhaul truck going down the highway and infront of us a guy hauling a sofa looses the sofa in the highway and it burts into a million pieces right infront of us.. we had no where to go but just ram a part of the sofa that fell in front of us... thank goodness the uhaul was huge and it took it like a champ. LOL Scares the pee out of me though! I blogged you on Prize-A-Tron! http://www.prizeatron.comPosted by: Angela | May 23, 2008 8:21 PM
Sorry. No fender benders for me! Thank you for sponsoring this sweepstakes! It is very generous of you!!! Wishing you continued success!Posted by: Suanne Giddings | May 23, 2008 9:00 PM
I don't really have one.Posted by: Donna Kozar | May 23, 2008 9:09 PM
My husband and I had just finished up a Christmas trip where we revealed that we were having the first grandbaby! Ten minutes on the road and boom! We were hit by a car whose driver didn't realize that traffic had stopped. Our brand new video camera was the only thing damaged (except that the car was pretty much totaled), but since we had to get another car to drive the 9 hours back home, delay was our new game. Three hours later, we were on our way.Posted by: Heather C | May 23, 2008 9:18 PM
This is very silly,but we were at the McDonalds drive through,when the kids started fussing with each other.Well I turned around to get them to stop.And through all the drama I must have let my foot off the brake when it rolled into the person in front of me.So she got her food,I got my food,which I could not eat and got out an exchanged insurance stuff, since she had a nice little dent in her carPosted by: Charlene Kuser | May 23, 2008 9:21 PM
I was being distracted in the car and went thru an i-pass lane. They normally dont have the bar to pass thru but this one did. I ran right into it and it went flying! But bc i was on an expressway, I couldnt stop...i am lucky no one was in front of itPosted by: amira | May 23, 2008 9:40 PM
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