“If Only She’d had a Starbucks Gift Card” Giveaway

– Posted in: Accidents, Worst Mom Giveaways, Worst Mom Moments

If the name Mommy Needs Coffee weren’t already taken, the woman who wrote this next story could’ve used it as her pseudonym. She’s the nicest person in the world — just don’t speak to her before she’s had her morning injection. Anyway, we’ll go ahead and call her Daily Dose and chalk this little episode up to not having enough caffeine.

And just to make sure this sort of thing never happens again, World’s Worst Moms is giving away a $25 gift card to Starbucks! You get one entry each time you: 1) leave a comment, 2) become a follower (let us know in comments), or 3) like us on our Facebook fan page.

Winner will be drawn on March 9th.


I was driving to pick up my son from preschool with his twin brother (who’d stayed home sick) in the back seat. I was chatting away animatedly as I drove.  It’s something I’ve told myself not to do, since I’m not a multitasker, and I know it seriously divides my attention. Yet I’ve continued to do it even after narrowly missing an accident once when I flipped a U-ey in front of an oncoming car. Anyway, we’re approaching the school and I make a left turn just as my son is saying something so important, apparently, that I feel compelled to turn around in my seat to answer him. Neither my son or I can remember exactly what he said, because of what happened next.

When I turn around, I see the car in front have me has come to a dead stop, and I’m nearly on top of it. Frantically, I slam on the brakes. Naturally, I smack right into it. Turns out the driver had stopped to let a jaywalker cross, not that it matters that he was jaywalking, since I would have rear-ended her anyway (Did I mention I was turned around looking behind me while my foot was pressing the gas?).  Luckily, my son was fine, though he did immediately complain of a sore pinky. I was fine. My car now has a bent front license plate, and the car I hit has paint from my plate on its back bumper. The woman driving the car I rear-ended was not so lucky, however, and she emerged holding her neck, in tears. Likely she has whiplash.

And I’m now the proud owner of an extra car mirror that lets me see my children in the back seat without turning around.

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29 Comments… add one

Anonymous February 24, 2011, 4:55 am

Oh my. Would you mind perhaps telling us what your license number is? That way, if we see you on the road, we can hand over our travel mug of coffee to you and leave a 10 second cushion between our cars!
I'm also a coffee addict and only slow down when I'm so dehydrated from my intake that all my nails have broken!

erika325 February 24, 2011, 7:27 am

Coffee. Coffee. Coffee.

Yikes! Poor you! Hope your son's pinky is all right. 😉

In all seriousness, I've had a few close calls before–I think my guardian angel is keeping a close eye on us!

Devlin's In Kansas February 24, 2011, 7:36 am

Aww man! Been there done that…..missed the car in front of me by half an inch- but then we got rear ended! No music, no phone, just talking to the kids- I guess in addition to the “no phone” and “no texting” laws they should add “no talking to your kids?!?” Hope the lady is OK and you guys are all fine! (We got a few scratches on our bumper- and my son spilled his just opened full bottle of mommy never lets me have this in the car except this one time Gatorade in his lap lol.)

Rebecca February 24, 2011, 9:50 am

Yep, coffee indeed. Maybe you'll win the starbucks giftcard. Though I really want to win it because that's the only way I can get the stuff.

WTH am I Doing? February 24, 2011, 10:28 am

Oooh. Bummer. Kids are a way bigger distraction than any feature my phone has…

Dee February 24, 2011, 10:46 am

Ahh! Sounds like a scary close call but am glad to read that you are all fine! Hope your son's pinky feels better – aww! 🙁

deeg131 at gmail dot com

Dee February 24, 2011, 10:47 am

follower Dee via gfc 🙂 deeg131 at gmail dot com

Dee February 24, 2011, 10:47 am

facebook fan Dee G. Thanks for the chance! deeg131 at gmail dot com

AubreyLaine February 24, 2011, 11:09 am

Thanks for the chance! 🙂
aubreyfick@yahoo.com

AubreyLaine February 24, 2011, 11:09 am

I like you on FB
aubreyfick@yahoo.com

AubreyLaine February 24, 2011, 11:09 am

I am a follower!
aubreyfick@yahoo.com

XLMIC February 24, 2011, 11:38 am

Ouch! Been there… craning my neck to watch someone do something stupid in their car while thinking to myself “what a dumbass!” then turning to see the stopped car right in front of me, slamming into and realizing “who's the dumbass NOW?” lol No one was hurt 🙂

I am so glad you and your son and the jaywalker are okay. Bummer about the lady's whiplash though 🙁

Sweet giveaway! Thanks for the chance 🙂

XLMIC February 24, 2011, 11:38 am

Facebook-liked 🙂

XLMIC February 24, 2011, 11:39 am

And an eager and contributing follower 😉

Not Blessed Mama February 24, 2011, 8:30 pm

OH NO! what an awful story. 🙁 and i was so excited to click over and see what the contest was.
well, here;s my first entry. lol.

Not Blessed Mama February 24, 2011, 8:31 pm

and I like you on FB as (of course) not blessed mama.

Not Blessed Mama February 24, 2011, 8:32 pm

and i'm a follower (and much loved contributor, right??!!)

Verity February 24, 2011, 10:09 pm

Reminds me (except the accident part) of the time I just blew right through a 4 way stop – yep, distracted by talking to the kiddos. The great thing is, although there were cars waiting to go, none of them moved. It was like they had somehow communicated to eachother – “watch out, don't move, crazy mama in a minivan coming through!”

Getrealmommy February 25, 2011, 10:34 pm

I'm a terrible driver, with or without the Starbucks! But I would still LOVE to win the giftcard! I am a follower, contributor, and now a facebook fan! I love this site, because it is wear I find bloggers I actually can relate to!

Ludicrous Mama February 26, 2011, 9:57 am

Liked on Facebook
ludicrousmama (at) gmail (dot) com

Ludicrous Mama February 26, 2011, 9:59 am

I'm a follower too, but I followed a week or so ago, so I may not be who your email was talking about!
ludicrousmama (at) gmail (dot) com

Ludicrous Mama February 26, 2011, 10:05 am

I was actually a worse driver while pregnant, apparently. 2 tired busted at separate times (on my way to work) and I spun out 3 times and ended up either attached to a baby tree or facing oncoming traffic (twice going home from work, only once on my way to work.) I had, oh, zero accidents in the 10 years before pregnancy, several of those years driving to and from the same work location as all my pregnancy accidents.
So far only a few close calls with my spawn in the car though.
Although I do't see the value of my “hands free” cell phone earbuds. It takes longer to untangle those stinkers and my hands are off the wheel and my eyes off the road for quite a while fishing them out of my cupholder, untangling them, plugging them into phone and earbuds into ears. Really, my phone call would have been done already, with only one hand off the wheel and no eyes off the road if I could just put the phone up to my face!

zenaliciousmom March 1, 2011, 11:32 am

Wooo hoo for coffee! YAY!

And funny story – I was arguiing with the 5yo son as we were late to school and I backed out of my driveway a little too fast and furiously and slammed (yes I SLAMMMMED) into a parked car across the street (where no one ever parks because my street is really narrow).

Sooooo…$2000 worth of damage to MY car alone. ugh.

I'm right there with ya..its the kids that make driving unsafe. I swear.

zenaliciousmom March 1, 2011, 11:34 am

Follower via rss feed 🙂

zenaliciousmom March 1, 2011, 11:35 am

Fan on facebook

(Tara M)

AubreyLaine April 7, 2011, 12:31 am

I am a follower!
aubreyfick@yahoo.com

Dee April 7, 2011, 12:31 am

follower Dee via gfc 🙂 deeg131 at gmail dot com

Devlin's In Kansas April 7, 2011, 12:31 am

Aww man! Been there done that…..missed the car in front of me by half an inch- but then we got rear ended! No music, no phone, just talking to the kids- I guess in addition to the “no phone” and “no texting” laws they should add “no talking to your kids?!?” Hope the lady is OK and you guys are all fine! (We got a few scratches on our bumper- and my son spilled his just opened full bottle of mommy never lets me have this in the car except this one time Gatorade in his lap lol.)

Anonymous April 7, 2011, 12:31 am

Oh my. Would you mind perhaps telling us what your license number is? That way, if we see you on the road, we can hand over our travel mug of coffee to you and leave a 10 second cushion between our cars!
I'm also a coffee addict and only slow down when I'm so dehydrated from my intake that all my nails have broken!

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