Bridget and I were out for a walk last Friday morning when we saw a police car sitting on the side of the road. The officer inside was clocking people’s speed. As we passed by Bridget became a bit interested in the police car and the idea that there was actually a police officer inside.

She stopped in her tracks and stared.

After a moment, the officer noticed that he was being stared at and waved. She grinned and waved back.

Then we were on our way again. We’d managed to get about a house length away when she stopped again… “Mom, I forgot to ask the police man a question!”

T: Well, what were you going to ask him?
B: Just a question.
T: You can go back and ask him, but first I need to know what you are going to ask.
B: I am just going to tell him that I’ll buckle up.
T: Ok. You can go tell him. Do you want me to come with you?
B: Yes.

Recently Bridget has decided that she’s too big for her car seat and that she should be allowed to sit in a regular seat with a regular belt like everyone else. When she starts to put up a fight I tell her that if she doesn’t buckle up that a police man might give mommy a ticket. And that its important for kids (even big kids) to be in a car seat so they can be safe. I usually follow it up with “You don’t want me to get a ticket do you?” – On occasion I’ve even resorted to telling her that the police man could even take me to jail, and that means that I wouldn’t be able to live at home with her anymore. One of the two always work.

So, as you can imagine… I was a little curious as to what EXACTLY she had to tell the officer. I don’t want her to be scared of cops, so I went ahead and let her.

When she got up to the police car she stood at the window, again starring in. This time the officer unrolled the window. Before it was even all the way down she announced, “I’m going to buckle up!” He didn’t hear her the first time. The conversation proceeded as follows:

Cop: What?
B: I’m just going to buckle up.
Cop: You are! That’s good. (giving her a thumbs up)
B: Not now, but later. When we’re in the car. I will get in my seat and just buckle up.
Cop: Good. Its a good idea to buckle up, so you can be safe.
B: Yea.
Cop: Do you want a sticker for buckling up.
B: (nodding)

The officer then gets out of his car and heads to the trunk where he pulls out a sticker resembling a police badge. It says “Junior Police Officer” on it. He hands it to Bridget who sticks it to her shirt and quickly notes that it matches his badge.

All the way home she was talking about how her sticker is just like his badge. And how she’s always going to buckle up.

Here she is proudly showing off her police badge sticker:

It was kind of a random fun thing for her to be able to do, and probably really good for her. And it was super nice of the officer to encourage her and give that sticker.