Safety is something that we often talk about with our children. We tell them not to talk to strangers and look both ways before crossing the street. I have always tried to be a good example for my children and show them that I do the things myself, that I ask of them. As time goes on and things change in the world, so do the things that we have to teach our children about especially with regard to being safe.
As unbelievable as it may be to our children, we did not have telephones with us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week growing up. Our parents did not have to talk to us about the dangers of operating a motor vehicle and using the phone, or more importantly texting while driving. I am quickly approaching the time that I will have a teenager in the house anxiously awaiting to take the step into the dangerous world of being able to drive. Ok, so she has already begun the countdown but I am just not there yet!
With this idea soon to become a reality in our house I have realized that I must set the correct example for her now. We have all answered the text or answered the phone while driving. What we have to remember is that it can happen in that split second. Maybe not the first time or the second time but the point is that we never know. Texting and driving is nothing short of deadly. What message would I be sending to her if I was telling her not to use the phone and text while driving if I were doing it myself?
There are a lot of messages, movements, and public service announcements that talk about not texting while driving. But just like so many other lessons in life our children learn what they see. As much as we may doubt it at times our children learn the majority of life’s lessons from their parents and watching what they do and say. This is one lesson that I have committed to leading by example for my children. NO TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. Our lives and the lives of those around us depend on it!
