Somebody’s Child

My mother is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Her ability to show love to others, even strangers, is truly the pinnacle of compassion. One thing she did while I was growing up has stuck with me throughout my life. It has changed the way I view the world around me, as well as how I interact with those in it. When we would see strangers on the street, anyone from a homeless family, an enthusiastic sign waver, or even a honk-happy person with road rage, we would immediately react. We’re kids, of course we point, comment, or maybe even react or speak negatively. Whenever we would do this, she would not laugh or joke with us. She’d only say one thing: “that’s somebody’s child, too”. They were a son, daughter, sister, or brother just like us. Our negativity turned into reflection on our actions, but most importantly compassion. A stranger isn’t strange, they’re somebody’s child, too. They deserve love, too.

Coming from a very small community of about 120 people, our town is like one big family. A small collection of streets and houses along a long stretch of highway is home to nearly everyone I’ve ever loved. Just outside of town the speed-limit is 70 MPH for miles of twists, turns, hills, canyons, and valleys. While the scenery is beautiful, the road is dangerous. It is not uncommon to see tow-trucks, police cars, ambulances, and even lifeflight making their way to a wreck. Seeing wrecked cars, shattered glass, and stretchers was just a part of my growing up. While all strangers, I could feel the grief of these situations. That was somebody’s son. That was somebody’s daughter. I began as a nervous and careful driver, from the moment I started the engine for the first time.

I never truly understood the responsibility I held as a driver on the road until it wasn’t just a stranger on a stretcher. One night, my mom received a call. She began a serious conversation with the person on the other line, until eventually hanging up with tears rolling down her face. We asked what happened, and she gently told us that one of her closest friend’s son had died in a car accident on the highway. He had been a role model to my brother and I growing up, and a truly kind and caring person. He was known as goodhearted in our community and in surrounding areas. The news of his death shook every family. While it was never truly found out, the police suspected the accident was a result of distracted driving. One motion to tune the radio, one look into the backseat, or one gaze out the window resulted in everlasting heartbreak. He was someone’s son. He was someone’s brother. He was our friend.

Because of what I witnessed his family and close friends go through in the following weeks, I now know the importance of remaining diligent while behind the wheel. I have seen the horrors of what distracted driving can truly result in. Too many times have I had to tell my friends to put their phones down while in the driver’s seat. Too many times have families had to experience loss because of irresponsible drivers. Driver’s education gives young drivers the ability to become safe behind the wheel. They are given the tools, experience, and confidence to make all roads in every community safer. To be informed on the dangers of impaired driving and distracted driving, not only in terms of yourself but other drivers on the road, is to be a more responsible driver. Driver’s education to be not only available, but encouraged, in more communities (including rural communities like mine) can be the difference between surviving or not the next time you’re on the road. If you drive with compassion, and understand that those other drivers on the road that may be irresponsibly passing, brake checking, brighting, or tailgating you–they too are somebody’s child.

Driver’s education can also be helpful in correcting the behavior of those who believe it is okay to disregard the laws of the road. Whether that’s refusing to buckle up, put the phone down, drive the speed limit, drive sober, fully stop at stop signs, or respect red lights, all rules need to be followed. These simple and sometimes seemingly insignificant acts can be the difference between life and death. It can be what changes that you are somebody’s child, to that you were somebody’s child. Awareness of the importance of following the laws while behind the wheel can be the ultimate difference.

As you drive to work tomorrow morning, pick your kids up from school, or even start on the highway on a great road trip, keep in mind your responsibilities as a driver. You are responsible for your own life, the lives of those in the car with you, but also those in the cars around you on the road. Your diligence and awareness is ultimately the most important thing for yourself and others. Compassionate driving, and realizing that those around you are daughters, sons, sisters, and brothers just like you, is integral to keeping each other alive. We all deserve to live, we all deserve to get wherever we’re going, and we all deserve love.