You know, this is one I’ve struggled with. I know they are strongly discouraged by many, and considered an absolute no-no by some, so I’ve wrestled with whether to keep one in my car. Being aware that they are a distraction is important, and I have to discipline myself to check it only when stopped (I do sometimes slip up). However, a few weeks ago, having a mirror in our car could very well have saved our toddler’s life. It was late in the afternoon and we had just left a store. She had picked up a small rock in the parking lot, unbeknownst to us. Several minutes down the road, while at a stop light, I (riding as the passenger with my husband driving) looked back to check the mirror to see if our daughter was still awake. It was late enough in the day that we didn’t want her having a nap and messing up bed time 🙂. Literally seconds after I turned around, she started to open her mouth and turn her head weird and I saw a look of panic come into her eyes and I immediately knew she was choking. Full-on, can’t-breath choking. Thankfully we were at a stoplight and my husband jumped out while I turned around to unbuckle her and he was able to perform the heimlich and dislodge the rock we didn’t even know she had. Without the mirror there for me to see her face, I wouldn’t have known she was choking. She very well could have gone unconscious shortly after and no hearing her babbling in the backseat, I would have assumed she was sleeping. It was a terrifying experience, and even knowing some of the dangers that a mirror can present, I was so darn grateful for it in that moment!
