REMEMBER

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2006
REMEMBER
8
Tue, 03-13-2007 - 1:54am

DD(16) is taking Civics/Current Events/Government (etc), this class has about 10 titles and a load of work since it is an honors class. DD seems to be enjoying the subjects, not to mention she likes the teacher. Teacher is young, enthusiatic, engaging and full of interactive ideas.

DD walked into the kitchen the other night and said I need HELP!! I looked to DH and said surely she was not talking to us? The internet must be down, all cell phones are being blocked by the CIA and all her friends are on vacation. Definitely she was talking to us (me specifically since DH was engrossed in basketball game).

She had to give a report the next day (did I mention she leaves things to last minute)? She said in Civics they had to pick an article out of the paper and report on it and their personal feelings. Being Mom, I said how about the war in Iraq? Informed I was not being helpful by DD. She said Mom we picked already (forgot my Crystal Ball) I said okay what did you pick? DD responded she picked the article about a fatal car crash involving 4 teens. Geez.

Accident summary: 4 teens in auto hit another car several weekends ago, 3 teens died and occupants in the other car were seriously injured. The teen driver lived. The driver took an unfamiliar curve a bit faster than advised, swerved at the wrong moment into the other lane. Curious, I asked DD why did you pick this? She said I know all of the kids and I am a teenage driver. DUH, Mom!!

DD says tell me what to write Mom and it has to be good because I have to speak in front of the whole class. DD who has the voice of an angel refuses to sing in church and will speak to strangers on the street but is public speaking phobic. No, I didn't write it for her, but gave her an idea. Write about what you would say to the parents of the teens that died.

Teacher called me at home the next day and said he wanted to read me portions of her report. She titled her report REMEMBER.

Basically, she said: "that although everyone would grieve the loss of their 3 friends, we should all remember that they lived. REMEMBER that one told the funniest jokes at lunch, REMEMBER one could spell any word in the dictionary, REMEMBER one could thought they could dance and proved it in the parking lot one day, and REMEMBER that one was always the first to lend a hand. Four REMEMBERS right? REMEMBER that although 3 of our friends lost their lives in a traffic accident, we have one friend still with us who needs us to REMEMBER that he is human. Her last sentence "REMEMBER TO FORGIVE".

Brag Alert: Our DD ROCKS!!!

I cannot imagine the isolation this young man must feel returning to school following this accident that cost the lives of his fellow classmates.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-14-2006
In reply to: whatsupmom
Tue, 03-13-2007 - 5:44am

I am sitting here (before 6am) with tears in my eyes and goosebumps! Congrats to your DD for taking an unfathomable tragedy, and summing it up so beautifully.

Sue

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2000
In reply to: whatsupmom
Tue, 03-13-2007 - 9:54am
Wow - what a powerful way your dd has of writing/speaking.
Pam
Avatar for heartsandroses2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: whatsupmom
Tue, 03-13-2007 - 10:28am
That is so great - I think it's wonderful that your dd has such empathy and her writing abilities sound fantastic!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2006
In reply to: whatsupmom
Tue, 03-13-2007 - 11:37am

Seems like there are stories like this in any state with teens. The teen driver was charged in connection with the accident and the judge, as well as the parents of the teens that died practiced forgiveness. The parents of the other teens said they did not want to see his life ruined with incarceration. He was sentenced to probation and driving class.

DD's teacher said he asked her to read it at a school assembly, DD said NO WAY!! She absolutely fears public speaking. She is a social butterfly and never meets a stranger, I do not understand. Apparently, the teen driver once an eneregtic personality at the school has been socially isolated. DD said she thinks most people just do not know what to say.

We live in North Carolina wish we had some of your snow, not all of it though.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-1999
In reply to: whatsupmom
Tue, 03-13-2007 - 12:08pm

You are right that this happens everywhere. Just last night I saw on the news (Boston area) that a young woman was being arraigned in court for manslaughter for running over a young man pedestrian and killing him near the school. I don't have the particulars but I thought how conflicting the thoughts of everyone would be in the courtroom (since I'm a lawyer and do car accidents every day). I can't remember exactly how the accident happened, so I don't if she was speeding or what but I think it would be a hard decision to say if this woman should go to jail or not.

Believe me, it's so easy for a car accident to happen. For the past few months, we have had at least six new cases where child pedestrians were hit by cars. In some of them, the kids probably ran out w/o looking, but we had one where the girl was in a cross walk in front of the high school on a very busy street w/ 3 other friends, so it's hard to see why the driver couldn't have seen them. She ended up w/ a broken leg. In another, a 4 yr. old boy was crossing the street w/ his grandmother to get to the school bus. He wasn't hurt very badly. The grandmother was hurt more. Luckily we haven't had any fatalities.

What your DD said was very profound and compassionate. Even if she doesn't want to read her own essay, I hope a teacher will read it anyway. The poor driver will feel guilty for the rest of his life.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-13-2007
In reply to: whatsupmom
Tue, 03-13-2007 - 6:08pm
this brings tears to my eyes
you are in the midst of a wise, compassionate, loving person
what more can you ask for?
it's probably a reflection on an environment of love and acceptance
very inspirational!
thank-you
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2006
In reply to: whatsupmom
Tue, 03-13-2007 - 11:51pm

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That is so sad, and my biggest fear when thinking about the awful things that can happen to drivers. Living with the guilt would be the absolute worst, for any of us, I think.

I'm printing out your DD's message for DS17 to read. It really hits the spot.

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http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/october/meet_the_new_health_.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTBYQlQ7yM

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-13-2007
In reply to: whatsupmom
Wed, 03-14-2007 - 12:02am
Coodos' to a great kid!