Staying safe while using public transportation begins before you even enter whichever mode of transport you are choosing. Whether you are at a bus station, waiting for a subway or train, safety starts as you wait for your transportation. Robberies and muggings happen at these venues frequently.

Today is the twenty-second anniversary of the attack on the USS Cole. Veterans of my generation find September and October peculiarly poignant as we mark the anniversaries and remember those lost in the attacks on the Cole (2000), the Beirut barracks (1983), the 9/11 attacks on The World Trade Center (2001), and Benghazi (2012), and the Battle of Mogadishu (1993).

The teen and tween years are a time of change for children and parents alike. Kids at this age question authority. Their peers often have more influence on them than parents. They are learning to self-regulate and pushing limits. The changes can be daunting for parents. I’ve found that these years require more explanations about decisions and giving teens increased input into decisions and choices. These are critical years to instill prudence into your child’s decision-making. The more they understand the reasons behind decisions, rules, and options, the more equipped they are to process new circumstances on their own and make prudent choices.