Talk To Your Kids About Drugs, Sex, and Elections

It is getting more and more difficult for families to make time for each other. Jobs, afterschool activities, and social calendars invade our personal space leaving scraps of our day to interact. I would like every parent or guardian to make time (yes, a firm appointment) to talk to their kids about the potentially harmful things in life: drugs, sex, and elections. With regard to elections, the stakes have rarely been higher in our nation's history and the gravity of the situation should be apparent. Let them know that voting is an individual decision and not one to be taken lightly. It is one made in secret and none of the popular kids will ever know which way they voted in the booth. Emphasize the importance of reading about what the candidates stand for (and their voting records) in unbiased news sources. Encourage them to look past the superficial Hollywood facade: handsome, cool, smooth talking, etc. Additionally, make them aware that they do not have to vote for every single office position on the ballot. If they do not know anything about one or more of the candidates then they may abstain from voting for her/him/them (even on a computerized one). Tell them it is every American's responsibility to, "...make a habit of two things--to help, or at least to do no harm" (Hippocrates). MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Zanne Booker 10-07-08

Note: Wars have been fought so that we could be free; but some of our toughest battles have been waged in our souls.