FAMILY VIGILANCE

Maybe I was a naive kid, but I grew up believing that school teachers, policemen, politicians and soldiers started every day with the Pledge of Allegiance and said their prayers at night. I really did. Aside from my parents, these were the people responsible for protecting me during my day, and in my mind, they were above reproach.

Even the TV station looked out for us. Remember the parental message that came on every evening at the end of the day's programming? First there was a warning--"It's 11:00, do you know where your children are?" That was followed by the playing of the Star Spangled Banner while an image of the flag fluttered across the screen. Some stations even closed with religious message before the station signed off.

I knew my parents loved me, but our home was not always a docile, tender place. We were dysfunctional by today's standards, but still, I felt the world was generally safe, and that I could generally count on adults to be wise, protective and ethically straight.

Pretty different now, eh? Family vigilance has never been more critical.

I'm writing a magazine article on this topic--exploring what families are doing to "up" their vigilance. I'd love your input. What are you doing to strengthen and prepare your family to face personal and family challenges? Have you changed your family strategies? Post a comment, share a story or a strategy and I might use it in my article. Thanks!