My toughest audience isn’t the newly licensed or soon-to-be driving teenager; the hardest group to reach is actually their father’s demographic, the middle-aged man... The dads aren’t my primary focus, but I often wonder if they should be, because their prevailing attitude is experience trumps distraction…
It’s hard not to question the point of my efforts when members of my own family selectively forget how we arrived in this place. I mean, why bother? If someone living the nightmare cannot be convinced, what possible credibility will I have with the rest of the world?
After round #37 of the same circular argument, I left for my appointment at Dr. M’s office feeling pretty discouraged. I know every decision we make in life has consequences; it’s the unintended outcomes of this particular choice that scare the hell out of me. I don’t assume because it happened once, we’re safe…
I was mulling over the morning’s conversation, brainstorming a better way to make my case when Dr. M came in. He asked how I had been and much to my surprise, he specifically inquired about my writing, tennis game and speaking engagements with Brian’s bracelets…
Dr. M went on to say he still has the bracelet I gave him several years ago sitting in a prominent place in his truck… He drove past the accident site not long ago and shared Brian’s story and the meaning behind the bracelet with his daughters again…
He told me that something I said during my last checkup really hit home with him. Apparently, I pointed out whether we realize it or not, our children are always watching us, learning behaviors based on what they see us doing…or not doing. They are backseat drivers-in-training…
Dr. M has a number of years before his children reach the driving stage of life; nevertheless, he’s more aware of his actions behind the wheel and the example he’s setting for them right now. What he may not have done for himself, he’s doing for them…
Maybe there’s hope after all… One down, infinity to go…
Wishing you sunshine and hope…tg
Tammy will update her blog on Mondays and Thursdays
