What's your initial reaction when you see this photo of a young girl on the back of the motorbike? Do you think: Wow, that girl sure loves to ride, or Wow, that girl probably should not ride?
Mom Mallory Torres has heard from both camps after the photo of her seven-year-old daughter was shared on a motorcycle club's Facebook page.
And much like Chrissy Tiger, Torres felt compelled to speak out after social media commentary swiftly went from celebrating the girl to attacking the mother.
"I love my daughter and she loves to ride, so I allow her to ride on the back of a motorcycle in full gear with my boyfriend who has 20+ years of experience," Torres wrote.
Where Teigen used sarcasm and humour to deflect the negative attention, Torres felt the need to defend and justify her parenting decision.
"If you want to keep your child in a bubble, by all means go for it. If you wouldn't allow your child on the back of a motorcycle, then don't, that's your choice as a parent and I support you... Don't call us bad parents for allowing our children to experience living. Don't call us bad parents for enjoying putting a smile on our kid's face every now and then with a motorcycle ride home after school."
I say do what you do, and obey whatever laws happen to be in place where you live, and answer to no one but your own conscience.
In this case, state laws in Texas suggest that young Mackenzie ticks all the motorcycle safety boxes, including being over five years old and wearing a helmet. (Her mother goes one further and ensures the girl also wears safety gloves, boots, and extra padding.)
Incidentally I also grew up enjoying motorcycle rides at the hands of a responsible rider. I was probably closer to 10. Still, the experience, as I remember it, was quite exhilarating. Never once did I feel I was in any danger. Had there been any more risk than riding with her in the car, my mother never would have put me in that situation.
In Torres's case, some good has come out of the experience. She and her boyfriend (said experienced driver) are hoping their story educates others about motorcycle safety. The pair even plans to host an event for families whose kids ride.
Another reminder that just because it doesn't work for you and your family, doesn't mean it doesn't work.
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