03/26/2026
PSA FOR PARENTS WITH KIDS IN HIGH SCHOOL...
Imagine your child was heading out to hang out with a friend you're not completely familiar with. You found out that this friend carries a gun. I'm curious, would you pull your child aside before they left and tell them, 'listen, I know your friend has a gun. Just make sure that, if they pull the gun out and start waving it around, you don't say anything to them. I don't care how dangerous the situation feels, you just keep your mouth shut and let them do whatever they want to do'?
I highly doubt that that is what your response would be, more likely, you may have a long talk with them about their friend and how responsible they are. If you didn't know the kid, you probably wouldn't let them go with them at all. In the end, regardless of how you handle it, your child's safety would be number 1 priority.
Now stop for a moment and consider the fact that every day your child is around friends, they may jump in a car with and ride around with them. Have you had the conversation with them about vehicle safety, that if their friend is being careless, they need to be an advocate for their own safety?
Now is the time to teach your kids about being discerning about who they will ride with and who they won't... and you need to educate yourself about the people that are holding your loved one's lives in their hand.
