If someone was running red lights and blasting along 121 in excess of 100 mph, I think that alcohol in one's system is the least of his problems. That's not just drunkenness, that requires a special kind of stupid to boot. I'm feeling far more empathetic for the person he hit and any passengers in the car.
Having almost been killed by a drunk driver, I don't have much sympathy for them either...
But, honey, I hate to say this...you weren't there...
You didn't see a 20 year old kid looking like a corpse in the front seat of a car...and have to sit there and think "my gods...what if I were the mom getting a call at 2:25 in the morning telling me that my son is dead or near dead"?
No...I hope he lives. I hope he lives and learns from this. If you're dead, you don't learn better. If you're dead...the story is over and you don't get to do better.
I hope he lives...I hope he has to learn from the consequences of his actions.
I certainly have compassion enough in my heart to hope he doesn't die of his own stupidity. And I hope his mother isn't crying right now over the loss of her son...that's a pain I couldn't take and I don't wish that on anyone in the world.
Having been affected many years ago by the accident you talked about, I would probably have checked on the other people involved in the accident first before bothering with the druken driver. Even then, I may well have punched him in the face before rendering aid. (Well, probably not, but I'd have had a HUGE urge to so so
( ... )
You are very wise parents. Many years ago my father made me that same promise of a no-questions asked ride home in the event of drinking or anything else where all I wanted was to get home.
I used it once as a teen - to leave a party that I did not like the feel of and one of my friends called my Dad for a ride about a year after I had moved out when they had too much to drink and were afraid to call their own parents.
While I hope that your kids never have to ask for that ride, I am so glad you make them that offer. My stepson is a sophomore this year and we've had a similar talk with him about how cars and drinking do not mix. It's hard to reach those teen years and suddenly realize that your job is no longer to protect your kids from bad decisions but to give them the support they need to make good decisions. Like calling for a ride.
I hope the people involved in that accident are OK and so glad that you came along to get them the help they needed.
Comments 7
You guys are wonderful parents.
Reply
I hope that the accident survivors pull through.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Having almost been killed by a drunk driver, I don't have much sympathy for them either...
But, honey, I hate to say this...you weren't there...
You didn't see a 20 year old kid looking like a corpse in the front seat of a car...and have to sit there and think "my gods...what if I were the mom getting a call at 2:25 in the morning telling me that my son is dead or near dead"?
No...I hope he lives. I hope he lives and learns from this. If you're dead, you don't learn better. If you're dead...the story is over and you don't get to do better.
I hope he lives...I hope he has to learn from the consequences of his actions.
I certainly have compassion enough in my heart to hope he doesn't die of his own stupidity. And I hope his mother isn't crying right now over the loss of her son...that's a pain I couldn't take and I don't wish that on anyone in the world.
Reply
Having been affected many years ago by the accident you talked about, I would probably have checked on the other people involved in the accident first before bothering with the druken driver. Even then, I may well have punched him in the face before rendering aid. (Well, probably not, but I'd have had a HUGE urge to so so ( ... )
Reply
I used it once as a teen - to leave a party that I did not like the feel of and one of my friends called my Dad for a ride about a year after I had moved out when they had too much to drink and were afraid to call their own parents.
While I hope that your kids never have to ask for that ride, I am so glad you make them that offer. My stepson is a sophomore this year and we've had a similar talk with him about how cars and drinking do not mix. It's hard to reach those teen years and suddenly realize that your job is no longer to protect your kids from bad decisions but to give them the support they need to make good decisions. Like calling for a ride.
I hope the people involved in that accident are OK and so glad that you came along to get them the help they needed.
:hugs:
Reply
Leave a comment