Open Letter to Parents

One of the most important things a parent can do is to be able to communicate with their children. Parents need to be able to tell when their child is acting different and know how to approach them to find out what's bothering them so they can help. However, the child has to be open to sharing their feelings as well. This is why it's very important for parents to be very sociable and open with their children from when they're very young. If they don't grow up feeling comfortable talking to their parents, they won't learn that on their own. They need to feel that their parents care about what they have to say in order for them to want to tell their parents. Parents need to take a real interest in their children's lives so they feel like they can tell their parents anything. It's important, even when they're very young, to ask them how school was or take an interest in who their friends are. When the child is upset about something, even if it's small and not significant, the parents should comfort the child and tell him or her that it will be okay. Children need advice from their parents throughout their entire lives, from the small things to big life changing decisions. Parents, of course, aren't perfect and won't always have the right answer or give the right advice, but the child needs to know that they can rely on them to try their best to help in any situation. If a child doesn't feel like he or she can go to their parents for anything, they will find someone else to look to, and many times that person will not be a good role model. Communication is the key to a healthy relationship. Parents need to make themselves available whenever their child needs them. They will bond and build a lot of trust for each other.

Civic Duties

A civic duty that everyone should follow is to be respectful of others, whether it be your family, friends, or complete strangers. Every day I am witness people being disrespectful to others and it bothers me that that is acceptable in our society. Nobody seems to have manners anymore. The lack of respect in our society is most evident on the CTA, which is why I hate taking it so much. I take the Ashland bus everyday to and from school and I believe the passengers of that bus are some of the rudest people in the world. For starters, everyone always pushes each other to get on first. It makes me especially angry when students push past elderly people to get on. There's no consideration that the elderly need the seats more than they do. Another problem that I have with people of the CTA is that so many of them put their belongings on the seat next to them so others can't sit down. If the train or bus is empty then fine, no need to put your stuff on the dirty floor. But if it isn't (which it rarely is) then have the decency to put your bag on your lap so someone else can sit down. I don't understand how people can be so ignorant to others and not let it bother them. I could never do that. I always give up my seat to an elder if i have to and I never leave my stuff on the seat next to me. It's common courtesy, something people nowadays seem to know nothing about.