Should I Allow My Child to Drive to School?

When your child reaches high school, they begin looking forward to getting their driver’s license and obtaining a little bit of independence from their family.  They may ask for a car as soon as they get their license. “Should I allow my child to drive to school?” you may wonder.[ad]

There are pros and cons to allowing your child to drive themselves to school.  You, your spouse, and your child will have to decide on whether the pros outweigh the cons.  The following points may help make the decision process easier.
The main reason for not allowing a teenager drive to school is safety.  Statistically, teenagers are more than four times as likely to have a fatal accident as an older driver.  There are many factors that make this statistic possible:

 

* Lack of experience
* Being easily distracted by music, cell phones, or friends
* Having the feeling of being indestructible
* Poor judgment
* Driving too fast
* Not using a seatbelt while driving
Here are some ways to help your teenage driver from being a statistic:

* Teach them to never start a car until they and everyone else in the car has buckled up.  Wearing seatbelts can, and do, save lives every day. 

* Be explicit and emphatic about not allowing your teen to drink and drive.  Drunk driving is one of the major reasons why teens have accidents. 

* Besides obeying the speed limit to avoid getting a speeding ticket, remind your teen to drive at or under the speed limit to avoid accidents.

* Larger cars are less “cool” than sports cars, but they are much safer in an accident. 

* Limit the times in which your teen can drive, being sure they don’t drive at night.

* Tell your teen they are not to give rides to friends without your express permission.  Teens are easily distracted by friends, so it’s safer to keep them from the car.

* Remind your teen not to talk on a cell phone and drive at the same time.  If they must talk on the cell phone, pull over to the side of the road to do so.
What are some of the benefits of allowing a teen to drive themselves to school?

* If you’re usually the one who drives your teen to and from school, allowing them to drive will free up some time for you.
* Taking a driver’s education class at school can help reduce the cost of insuring your teen.
* Some teens get part-time jobs after school.  Allowing your teen to drive to school will help them get to their job on time.
* A teen driver can also stop at the store for you after school, which could save you time and a separate trip to the store.

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Mom, Can I Wear Makeup?

Some girls are more “girly” right from when they are born.  Some are more “tomboyish”.  As they grow up, your tomboy may become more feminine and ask, “Mom, can I wear makeup?”  Whether or not to allow your daughter to wear makeup is not always an easy decision.[ad]

Some people let their daughters start wearing makeup early, especially if their daughter is involved in beauty pageants.  Other parents are not happy with allowing their young daughters to wear makeup.  The decision, ultimately, needs to be made between the parents and the child.

Is there a right age to let your daughter start wearing makeup?  Not really.  It is a decision based upon the parents’ wishes, the mother’s use of makeup, and what is acceptable where you live.  However, if you’re not comfortable with your eight-year-old wearing makeup, don’t let what is acceptable where you live cause you to go against your better judgment.

Many middle school girls start wearing light makeup like lip gloss and possibly a little bit of mascara.  As they get older, and more girls start wearing more makeup, your daughter will probably ask if she can wear more, too.  When they reach high school, most girls are wearing makeup on a regular basis.

You may want to ask your daughter why she wants to wear makeup.  Is it just because some of her friends are wearing makeup?  And if that’s the reason, do their friends’ parents know they’re wearing makeup?  They may be wearing makeup without their parents’ permission.

Were you allowed to wear makeup at an early age?  If you were comfortable with the schedule your mother used with you, perhaps you could use a similar schedule with your own daughter.  If you think your mom was too lenient with you, you have every right to ask your daughter to wait.

It may be time to realize that your little girl is growing up, and part of growing up means using makeup.  Take the time to show your daughter the correct way to apply makeup rather than letting her do it.  You want her to accentuate her youthful beauty, not look like a clown, or worse. 

If you never learned the correct way to apply makeup, go with her to a makeup store and both of you get a makeover.  You’ll both learn the best colors to use, will learn how to correctly apply makeup, and will have a great time doing something “girly” together.

When your daughter asks, “Mom, can I wear makeup?” – don’t panic.  Listen to her reasons before saying no.  If your answer is yes, then make sure she learns how to wear an appropriate amount for her age.
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Hillbilly Hotdogs Recipe

Ingredients:

1 hot dog bun
1 tablespoon mayonnaise salad dressing
1 slice of bologna
1 piece of string cheese

Instructions:

Open the bun and spread each side with the salad dressing.  Lay the piece of bologna flat. Lay the piece of string cheese on the edge of the bologna and roll the bologna around the cheese.  Lay the bologna roll in the bun. 

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