Funerals for kids

[mactiger]

I just got back from taking my 13 year old to the funeral of one of her friends. He wasn't killed with a gun or a knife, or a drug overdose: he was hit and killed by a drunk driver. He was crossing a busy road with a few of his buddies, and the drunk swerved to miss some of them and hit Ross. Of course, the local media covered it with their usual style and grace: video of a huge blood smear on the highway. The church was full of grieving teenagers, who can't quite understand why this happened to one of their friends. My daughter Tessa wrote a poem that she read at the services. I'm very proud of her for that, because I know it was a hard thing to do.

The driver got a 2d offense DWI, along with vehicular homicide charges and some others. He's out on bail right now.

If you're gonna drink (and I don't care if you do--I do it myself), DON'T DRIVE.

Both this kid and the drunk were close to their homes when it happened.

I'm sending some money to MADD right now.

Troy

[tightloop]

It is tough on parents. You are not supposed to outlive your kids...

[AGlock36]

I truly feel for the kid and his parents. I also truly feel for his friends. I truly dont know what I would do if anything ever happened to my 2 wonderful little girls. My prayers are with his family. I truly have not tolerance for people that drink and drive. I truly think that he should burn at the stake. But just my .02

Paul Franklin

[Sixgun]

My condolences to that family.

I agree with Tightloop, It's not right for parents to outlive their children.

Ray

[warpspeed]

I agree with Tightloop, It's not right for parents to outlive their children.

This is my greatest fear

[Chriss Grube]

Troy,

Unfortunately in mine line of work I've seen this too damn often. I'll never understand it. I've had to tell the families that their baby isn't coming home anymore too many times. It doesn't ever get any easier either. Best advice I can give you and the community is to use this in a way to postively change the surviving friends. They are kids and some will try alcohol and drugs and it will cost some of them their lives. Use this time to guide them away from it while the hurt is fresh in their minds.

[mactiger]

Thanks, Chriss. I did have a little conversation with some of her "posse" this afternoon--the 6-8 girls that are always, like, at my house. I tried to point out the problems associated with drinking and driving, and also stressed the reason they think I'm all mean because I won't let them walk to the next subdivision over--too much traffic, and no place to get out of it. I hope it sunk in. I had a similar conversation with my older daughter, and she has called me a time or two when the party got out of hand. She even took her date's car keys away once--I picked them both up and drove him home. I hope the other one learns a lesson, too.

I know there were some very unhappy little girls around today.

And, like TL and Warpspeed, I don't want to outlive my children.

Troy

[AikiDale]

My kids are now 25, 25 and 27 and they are not allowed to go before I do! I think it is very important, especially as teenagers and college kids they know they can call Dad at 3:30 in the morning if they are in no shape to drive and Daddy will pick them up, take them home and not give them so much $%@& they would rather chance it the next time than make the call.

[TBF]

That sucks.

I too , always told my son to call me if things turned out that he should not drive.

Travis F.