There have been songs an stories about these two sayings and they are the theme of tragic stories in real life as well. Most of us hope to be in the right place at the right time, but how many tragedies end up because people actually PUT themselves in the WRONG place at the WRONG time. Discuss this topic with your children of all ages. You can probably think of many examples to use from your own life or other stories in the news. I would keep a file folder of stories from the newspaper & magazines-back when we all read newspaper/magazines-and one of the stories was from a columnist The Detroit News, George Cantor who actually told his family’s story of the loss of their daughter, Courtney, a freshman at the time, at the University of Michigan.
The book George Cantor wrote, following his daughter’s death, Courtney and George.
Courtney had been at a fraternity party with friends. Although at the time of death, she did not have a blood alcohol level past the limit, she had been drinking. It is believed that she fell from her dorm window, as she was either opening or closing her window from her loft bed. This was a tragic accident. Whether the alcohol played a roll or not, we do not know. I remembering reading her father’s article in the NEWS, clipped it and shared it with our family at the dinner table, back in 1998 when it happened. Our kids were much younger, maybe too young, but it had an effect on me. George Cantor later wrote a book about his experience following his daughter’s death. He died at the age of 69, twelve years after Courtney’s death. He filed a lawsuit against the University of Michigan and the case was settled out of court.
Today, we see so many instances where people end up in trouble because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just last week, we saw a street fight with some ending up quite harmed. A friend of mine used to tell her sons “Nothing good happens after 11:00 (pm).” I agree. There are times when you need to just go home or walk away when someone starts an altercation. I don’t know the specifics of the event in Ohio last week, but if you weren’t out late, you might have avoided such an event. Maybe when you have kids, you don’t stay out late or go to places where such activity can occur. That doesn’t take away from the seriousness of the injuries anyone incurred, just an observation.
In the next few weeks, kids will be taking on a new school year and a new chapter in their lives. Those kids making the transition from high school to college and life on their own, or from middle school to high school where parents are less involved in their activities, need to be aware of the consequences of their actions and behavior. Talk to your kids about the responsibility they need to take for their own wellbeing, safety, looking out for their friends, and not leaving a friend alone out or at a party. Talk about safety in numbers, the dangers of drinking and drugs and being places they should not be. You want them to be wise in their decisions. It could lead to many great days ahead for them…and you 🍎
