My most stupid parenting moment ever!

Monday night, we surprised Jameson with something he has wanted for a long time:

Just look at that face!  He's not excited, at all!  HAHA!

He's wanted something with a motor on it for years.  But, we wanted him to learn to ride a bike, and actually ride his bike a lot, before we progressed to something with a motor.  He rides his bicycle all the time, so we knew it was time.

Marty found a great deal online and picked it up Monday night.  Jameson was SO excited!  He couldn't believe he finally had his own set of wheels.  

It was getting late, but Marty wanted Jameson to just drive it in a circle in the front yard, just to make sure it would work, before we put it up for the night.

HERE IS WHERE WE BECAME THE WORLD'S WORST PARENTS!

We didn't make Jameson put a helmet on and he didn't have his seat belt fastened.  He was just going in a circle around the front yard....or so we thought.

Marty hopped on the back (also with no helmet or seat belt) to give him some pointers on steering, gas, brake, etc...

Literally 2 minutes (or less) after this picture was made, something got stuck (the clutch, the gas, something) and the go cart just TOOK OFF.  They flew through the yard, across the road, and was quickly headed straight for the neighbor's house.  By the grace of GOD, Marty was able to kick the wheel and get it turned right before they hit the house. Then, they flew across the neighbor's driveway (again, it was the grace of GOD that their car wasn't in the driveway where it normally is), and down into the neighbor's wooded side yard.  Somehow (by the grace of GOD), they missed every tree and tree stump and was able to get it turned back towards our house, where it FINALLY stopped when it ran into a dirt bank in our yard.

Jameson was hysterical.  He cried and yelled and screamed.  Except for a pretty ugly rubber burn on Marty's leg (from trying to steer it), they were physically unharmed...BY THE GRACE OF GOD!  After I made sure they were OK, I walked back into the house and just started shaking so hard, I couldn't even cook supper.  I think I was in shock.  I couldn't believe what had just happened, or more specifically, what COULD have just happened.  We were SO STUPID to let him on that go cart without a helmet or seat belt!  What would have happened if Marty hadn't been able to steer the go cart away from the house or worse yet, what if Marty hadn't been on the back and Jameson was by himself?  I still get physically ill when I think about what could have happened!

I told Marty right then, Jameson (and Chelsea) are not allowed on that go cart until every single thing is checked/replaced.  They must have on a helmet, and have their seat belt securely fastened, even if it is just a quick trip around the yard!  Actually, I may have said something about having to have a HANS device installed before my baby touched that thing again.

When I got home last night, they were working on the go cart....replacing the clutch.  At least Jameson isn't completely freaked out about it.  A little while later, I heard somebody driving the go cart around the front yard.  My heart literally stopped as I jumped up to see.  Fortunately (for him), it was Marty testing the new clutch.  It worked fine, but Jameson still isn't allowed on it again until everything else is tested/replaced.

So, I hope my very stupid mistake will save at least one person from a potential disaster!

Buckle-up kids!