.gif){kind=logo} |
|
|||
 TRAGEDIES = OUR SOCIAL NORMS...WHEN WILL WE GET IT?Parent-hosted party where alcohol was served leads to a fatal car accident.
My daughter in California called to tell me about the death of a teenager in her neighborhood. Unfortunately, I hear this same story on a regular basis. If we, as parents, don't act on this issue, how can we expect to prevent this from happening again and again? Some of us don't even realize we are doing anything wrong. If we see a 2-year-old in the street, we will rush out into the road and rescue that child from harm. But, why can't we do the same when we see teenagers at the local convenience store buying alcohol? Or why would we host a teen party and serve alcohol? The teenager is in just as much danger as the 2-year-old, but we look the other way - we don't feel empowered to act. Maybe we'll be seen as "uncool" or minding other people's business. Maybe we are afraid. We don't want confrontation - we don't know what other parents will say if we question their behavior or their children's behavior. Even when the statistic tells us "it could be our child" and we know deep down inside that something is wrong, it is just easier to look the other way and hope for the best. Why does it take a tragedy for us to realize that something is wrong? Realizing it doesn't change behavior... in 72 hours we are right back to the same old habits and social norms. The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again expecting different results. Well, that is what we have with the hand wringing and funeral attending of kids killed by the combination of alcohol and driving. Informed Families was recently contacted by a local funeral home who wanted to participate in the Red Ribbon Campaign. We were delighted and surprised to hear such enthusiasm from a sector of the community. We don't regularly think about partnerships with funeral homes, but it makes perfect sense. The funeral home witnesses these tragedies repeatedly - parents burying their teenagers. How sad when it is something that is preventable. Funeral homes want to try to educate people in their surrounding community and to be a part of the solution. What will you do to join us in preventing devastating tragedies? Sign a Safe Homes/Safe Parties Pledge on our website and pass it on to your friends. Do something... the life you save may be the life of your own child. Peggy |
Homepage l About Us l Red Ribbon l Lock Your Meds™ | Programs l Connect l News & Events l Get Involved |
||
|
