Help our children take responsibility

I was both saddened and challenged by Julie Muhlstein’s Sunday column on the new skate park at Wiggums Hollow Park. (“Everett’s skate parks really need an adult presence.”) Our kids need more than just places to hang out. They need dependable relationships with caring adults who serve as both advocates and mentors for them. They need adults who inspire them to high ideals and tenaciously stick with them as they try on and grow to embody these ideals themselves.

I was with my 9 year-old and 6 year-old last week at a park in Marysville. Similar to Muhlstein’s experience, there were young teens shouting the F-word and other choice expletives as they goofed around with each other. I took a chance and approached them, pointing out that there were very young children around. For whatever reason, these teens responded positively and actually confronted one of their peers when he slipped up with his language.

I had no authority over these kids. They could have ignored me and left me feeling helpless and foolish. Maybe my plea appealed to their sense of responsibility to be protective of children younger than themselves? For whatever reason, my presence and gentle reminder made a difference.

I believe that young people, like all of us, are motivated by worthy causes and ideals to which they can aspire. They also, like all of us, resist being controlled by others. Why don’t we empower these young people by forming a youth advisory group to create standards for the skate park that keep it safe and positive for everyone in our community? This group can also work in collaboration with adults to come up with creative ways to make sure these standards are enforced. Kids become responsible when they have real responsibilities. Our new skate park is a perfect opportunity to make this happen.

Jim Strickland