School Is Out

When I was growing up in the mid 70s, things were not quite as fast paced as they are now.  When school was out for the summer, we went to the community pool, our best friend's house, the movies, shopping at the mall or just riding around.  Seatbelts were not required and we rode with our foot out the window (if you were the passenger).  The radio was usually loud and the car full of friends were singing along to the latest hits.  Everything was within a 5-6 mile radius of our home and only once in a blue moon, did we venture to the 'big city' 20 miles away. 

When our sons were starting to drive, we told them to only drive within a certain area of our small town until they were used to driving.  Cell phones were not to be used as they were driving and other rules were given to them as the days passed by.  Many jokes were made by them and to them about what mom and dad would allow them to do.  Only after many years later did we find out where 'Old Blue' had been driven.

My mother bought Andrew and Paul a Guardian Angel sun visor clip when they each got their driver's license.  I am sure that she thought that any extra help would be appreciated as they drove to school, church and soccer practice. 

School is out.  Parents, please talk to your children about the responsibility of driving.  Tell them not to text while they are driving, not to get distracted as they talk to their friends, not have too many people in the car, no drinking and driving and that everyone HAS to wear a seatbelt. 

Please.  It's not the 70s anymore.