After leaving home the first space they enter for many students is the ubiquitous van.

As we know our children (aka future adults) are constantly learning

Through observation, sounds sights, our behaviours show them ways to be —- not always thought through or the best examples.

Imagine for a moment what they pick up from that first space in the morning after leaving home.

Is it calm, kindness, helpfulness?

Maybe but most likely in that van —- they’re recklessly sped around, constant horn, regular screeching, aggressive insensitive behaviour of a seemingly uncaring driver.

Not all the apples are bad.

So let’s not assume they’re all the same —

I’ve observed careful, safe drivers

—- but too many demonstrate the worse road behaviour.

So often our children are transported in a bad van and shown the worse behaviour.

So should we be surprised if we are creating future inconsiderate aggressive pushy people on the roads and maybe elsewhere?

What can we do about it?

Challenge bad behaviour when we see it?

Discuss this with our children?

Kaveri isn’t taken to school in a van.

But when we walk the streets, or she rides pillion, or cycle, we both notice and comment on both good and bad behaviour on the road.

My duty is to help her observe, evaluate and ultimately think for herself

…

We often forget that everything is an experience that we can learn from.