Sharing a Lot on Northwest Corner Chatter..and Now With You, About Crafting Clear Safety PLANS and Remembering Kaelan, our late teen son (1993-2009)

Thinking of Summer Safety and Remembering the Legacy of the Love and Friendship of Youth and our Communities.. We all play singular roles in keeping the good times flowing and being there for one another when life takes strange twists and turns. I have a Housatonic Song that may be on my blog, I'll put it up soon to help celebrate Railroad Days and Community Networking.

I welcome others being in touch to create more efforts along these lines here and in our country and world at large. We are pretty much 'on the clock' to live more sustainably, which means buying less, reusing stuff more, being nicer to ourselves, others and the planet and yes, learning from the past as we envision a far more functional future for the many more of us that are on plan-it heart than when I was born over 50 years ago...

The spirit of small towns especially in the summer when more locals and visitors replenish the sense of sharing in community with simple and more festive events can be inspiring.

The more practical planning to get to places on time, be courteous capable drivers (please everyone do more practice than required to just get one's license and be coached another six months at least by responsible adults rather than venture out on one's own.

Many inexperienced drivers fail to 'check their blind spot' or are too slow to change lanes and don't use others to help monitor driving concerns (about five telephone poles ahead and on both sides of the road for problems that may come up..cars or critters maybe even falling branches or wet leaves, ice and snow in the colder weather, etc)

Driving is a team sport with passengers being fair team players, keeping music and emotions to a normal level (if parked and no one else is around to be bothered, go ahead and crank the tunes and get out of your car and dance if you want...yes, I know some who have done that whether in the moonlight or on a quick 'pretend vacation to jazz up the shopping routine.') Okay back to the idea of enjoying the luxury of living in a basically wonderful world and sharing tips on how to keep that going for more folks who live nearby or are passing through.

We can work together to Craft Clear Safety PLANS (People and places Living, Loving and Learning with Agreements and Networking through Schools, Socializing and Society)

See more on Remembering Kaelan Alexander Palmer Paton post online and on livfully.org Comments to create safer social and recreational networks and parameters all adults and youth Voluntary Follow to honor the sacrifices of those who have paid the ultimate price with their lives or who have been injured or suffered emotionally and otherwise due to 'not having much of a plan or following one even when agreed to be adults and youth.'

Gotta have the follow through be much more consistent to keep more people in the game of life and good times.

Thanks a bundle and feel free to comment, share, take 'one small step' toward sobriety in thought, word and deed. Prayers for all who are on a rough road of any kind that more earth angels and help from all realms would help light their healing path...one moment, one hour and one day at a time.

A free tip from years of learning.. if in need of a 12-step program first try to get clear on whether you have been abused or have been abusive to others. There are more current domestic abuse laws and even societal laws which likely would give you many a wake-up call if not an arrest so do your homework.

If ever needing to ask someone to leave a place or program (even a voluntary 12-step one) those 'leading that action' should have a respectful plan in place. No one should be addressed when alone or in a direct manner without their permission. That means a written notice or phone call should be made rather than person-to-person contact.

That is to avoid any concerns about being verbally assaulted, intimidated, creating a situation that could become disruptive or the basis for allegations. That would protect all parties.

Also the 'guidelines' for any voluntary group could include a written flyer, even for a household in general, being out in public, at libraries or faith groups and riding in cars and being a guest at another's home or caring for other youth or teens.'

The permission to do dangerous things (yes, swimming in lakes, rivers, near falls, boating or any kind of 'going off in the woods and exploring' or into the city etc should be clarified as to State, Local and Parental or Adult responsibilities and even penalties for negligence or implications for being sued (if someone gets hurt at a home, or possibly away from home under someone's care, if someone does not have driver's insurance and so on or if a car in not up on registration, or any kind of drinking of alcohol on premises (serving alcohol to minors Is against the law in CT for instance even at one's home, driving even with just one drink if an accident is caused the penalties can be steep even if not drinking etc.)

Setting some public and private guidelines to Prevent Harm is the intent of this post. Basically being accountable for one's time, social interactions, attendance at programs and so on can be the main job of all parents to help their minors abide by. Summer is a good time to explore the parameters of 'what basic routines will require and what is okay to do in one's free time any time of the year. '

A guideline of having a curfew concur with one's grade level such as 8th graders home by 8pm (and that can be for most of elementary school and even closer to 7pm for the winter season.)

9th graders could have a general curfew and even bedtime as 9pm (since there are many new challenges adjusting to high school including an earlier waking time to start school earlier.)

10th graders could have the curfew of 10pm and basically that could hold in general for 11th and 12th graders since safety is important in terms of driving and getting good regular sleep.

The pressure to work or be in serious hobbies can be stressful but should not deplete one's sleep reserves if possible. In the summer, being out until 11pm or midnight for the older teens could be okay from time to time, but again sleep is like money in the bank, and it must be maintained to not feel the effects over time. Same goes for those out of college or adults, more sleep than not will prove a great help to health, work and energy levels the more regularity is maintained.

That may mean limiting some voluntary television or video viewing, asking for help for housework or yard work (having a few friends over to get that stuff Done now and then could be another form of socializing, as can shopping, cooking and carpooling .

Saving energy and teaching others some basic life skills--youth or adults who missed those episodes-- can be a win-win and bartering could count too. Now back to the reflections for crafting clear safety plans and life paths for success and wellness on many levels, personal, social, public, practical and more.

"Never give up.. You're worth it" (That was a basic message lived by my parents through thick and thin..and over more than 80 years of living life fully as parents of many and grand parents of many more as well as friends to just about everyone they met or worked for, my Dad Dale Palmer Sr as a brick mason and farmer, and my Mom Mary Palmer Sr as a hairdresser and caregiver well into her own senior years.) Hope you feel yourself counted in a circle of friends, and if not quite...you're invited into mine and that of the Livfully Blog circle that's reached over 80K online.