Re: Parents are changin their minds about moped

• Author: rei (---.hsd1.mn.comcast.net)
• Verified User: blackkat
• Date Posted: 07-06-08 13:17

safety and fear, every parent is different.

i encouraged my 15 yr old to buy his vespa grande and gave my 19 yr old his foxi last year for graduation.

obviously my fear level is lower than your parents, but i live in a different city and dont know all your circumstances. fear is an emotional thing you can never argue with, so dont try (funny about your mom following you in a car on your bicycle). always try to maintain a calm voice and demeanor when the subject comes up. Being more mature than your parents is possible. it will help allay their fears, knowing internally that your head is in the right place.

safety, however, is something you can do something about.
kudos that you have a helmet. i requested my kids wear them.
i also have reflective vests or sashes for wearing at night for them.
Their lights work. the vespa has turn signals, and we are planning on turn signals for the foxi for better visibility and safety (hands on the handlebars).
i still want to know when they leave the house (just to know the moped wasnt stolen if i see it missing) and when they arrive at a destination if it is pretty out of the way. cell phones make that easy.

if you wanted to say something to your parents in an unemotional, but thoughtful way, you could write a contract for them. it could state your understanding of their fears and their love for you. you then can promise to drive safely, using most of the features mentioned above. you could mention the routes that you consider safe and the streets you would not ride on. being able to put this in front of them in black and white might keep their minds from thinking of you as road kill. they also could not avoid noticing that you chose a mature way to state your case.