... Cover story, continued
without cell service, and you won’t be distract- ed by pinging messages.
versation, the less your rule feels like the law, and the more it becomes a compromise.
giving them the freedom and privacy they yearn for and deserve.
You can even include your children on your mission to avoid distractions. If you’re driving and hear your phone going off, ask them to respond to the messenger or caller for you. If you’re traveling, emphasize safe snacking at a rest stop or in a restaurant, and keep yourselves entertained with a variety of car games, pod- casts, or audiobooks. Your kiddos will see your effort, and they’ll pick up your safe habits. Your child may have heard about the dan- gers of distracted driving, but make sure you confide in them about your own worries and make your rules clear. Talk to them about the dangers of all varieties of distracted driving, like putting on makeup or eating behind the wheel. If they feel they have to get ready or eat in the car, discuss ways their schedule might need to be cleared up. They might also have ideas for cutting out distractions in the car, so get their opinion. The more you include them in the con- ‘WE NEEDTOTALK’
Some kids respond better to statistics about multitasking and distracted driving, so check out DMV.org, DoSomething.org, or TeenDriver- Source.org. Additionally, local law enforcement agencies or hospitals may offer simulations and classes on distracted driving. These are activi- ties your whole family could participate in. Your child has a right to privacy, but they still need your parental guidance. There are a variety of apps you can install to make sure they’re keeping up their end of the driving bargain. Apps like LifeSaver, AT&T DriveMode, and TrueMotion Family all have a variety of features for parents, and they are compatible with iOS and Android devices. Some insurance companies also offer monitoring devices that can be installed in your teen’s car, if that’s more your speed. Regardless of what you choose, technology can give you an unassum- ing way to monitor your children while still TRACK THEM
Before you hand over the keys, take a look at your teen’s habits — and your own. Communi- cating your expectations and setting up these safety nets will give you more peace of mind as they drive away.
A Message of Universal Love Commemorating MLK Jr.
Inmany of his speeches and sermons, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about love. He wasn’t talking about the romantic kind, though. King often used the term “agape,” an Ancient Greek word used to refer to the unconditional love of God for man, to talk about universal love for all people, regardless of race, religion, or circumstance. We commemorate King on Jan. 21. It’s a celebration and a National Day of Service, so take the opportunity to honor King’s message of universal love. Here are three ways to put agape into practice. 1. PAY AVISIT TO A HISTORICAL SITE. Immerse yourself in King’s message this month 2. EDUCATE YOURSELF
else’s shoes, like Maya Angelou’s“I KnowWhy the Caged Bird Sings,”or Rebecca Skloot’s“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” 3. SHARE THE MESSAGE OF NONVIOLENCE AND GIVE BACK TOYOUR COMMUNITY. At the center of King’s message was the principle of nonviolence. Consider how you can advocate for nonviolence in your community. You could donate your time or money to a local shelter for victims of abuse, or volunteer your home to foster abandoned pets. If you’re part of a PTA or another school organization, encourage students to put an end to bullying. The Mix It Up program has anti-bullying lessons and activities that support King’s message. Take some time to reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision this month and take part in the universal message of love. Don’t we all want more of that?
AND OTHERS ABOUT THE STRUGGLES PEOPLE HAVE FACED. Learning about the experiences of others cultivates empathy. When you interact with someone across cultural or subcultural
by visiting the places where these historic events occurred. Our nation is full of opportunities to become better acquainted with the
boundaries, it helps to reduce prejudice. Promote positive interactions in your community by hosting a film night or book club focused on the civil rights movement. You can feature a movie like“Selma”or “13th.”For a book club, select an autobiography or biography that puts yourself in someone
birth of the civil rights movement, from the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia, to Selma, Alabama, where protest marches were held in 1965. After all, if we don’t know our past, we are doomed to repeat it.
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