Ask the Coach
Teenage dating Hey, Coach! My son is seventeen and has been bugging me constantly because I have a 10 p.m. curfew when he has the car. As a parent, I feel I need to err on the side of caution. His biggest gripe is when he has a date. He says having to be home by 10 is just plain stupid. I am an avid reader of your column, so I know you are going to tell me to keep an open mind and to compromise. I just don’t know if I can do that when it comes to kids and the way they drive.
Signed…..Sergeant Mom
Response from Ashley Thurby:
Dear Sergeant Mom: First of all, since your son is 17 years old, he is not permitted to drive past 11 p.m., or he is breaking a state law. I don’t think your curfew of 10p.m. is exactly “just plain stupid.” It’s only an hour earlier than Pennsylvania junior-license drivers are required by law to be off the roads. A lot of teens who are now eligible by age (18) to be out driving past 11 p.m. still have parental curfews restricting them from doing so. Explain to your son that it’s not his driving you don’t trust, but all of the reckless drivers you find out on the highways in the late hours of the night.
According to www.teencaraccident.com
, most accidents occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. When it comes to going on dates, it’s definitely not a crime to go out a little earlier! Instead of leaving at 7 p.m. for dinner, tell him to pick his date up at 5 or 6 p.m. Ultimately, you are the parent and it is your decision what time your son is to be home. Being that your son is 17, he only has been driving for about a year. I’m sure as he gets older and gains more driving experience, your curfew rule will change, but remember this: No matter how safely one drives, we cannot control the driving of others. Remind your son that no matter what time of day it is, he and his passengers should always wear a seatbelt. It is the most effective precaution we can take to prevent death and reduce injury in the event of a car accident. It is so worth it to take two seconds to buckle up. Seat belts can save lives.
Signed….Ashley
Coach’s Response: As we’ve come to expect in this column, Ashley hits another home run. While there’s not much difference between a 10 and 11 p.m. curfew for junior drivers, the Coach will not be offering a communication to compromise toward the extra hour. In addition to using seat belts, the feeling here is that easing up on the gas pedal will also help to save lives. Also, as each hour passes into the night, more and more intoxicated drivers hit the road, so we all need to beware. Great job, Ash, and we also salute Sergeant Mom!
Jogging and losing
Hey, Coach! I am thinking about starting to jog as a way to lose weight. I weigh about 145 pounds and need to lose about 15 pounds. How many weeks do you think I will have to jog for this to happen?
Signed…..Trotter
Dear Trotter: First, congrats for “thinking” about starting to jog as a wellness activity. You are encouraged not to be one of the many that thinks, but then doesn’t act. Unfortunately, there is no way to answer your question because there are too many variables. The basic formula to lose weight is to expend more calories than taken in. While that formula is complex to calculate, let’s try to focus more on being committed to healthy living choices (95 percent of the time). As a beginner, start slowly and alternate jogging and walking to your comfort level. Eventually, work toward the suggested (moderate to intense) cardio workouts of 60 minutes on most days of the week, with 90 minutes or more suggested to lose weight. Toss in some strength training and get a healthy nutrition plan, and good things will start to happen.
As always, check in regularly with your primary health care team. Good luck!
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You can contact the Coach at askthecoach@yahoo.com.