It was a beautiful evening as we drove to my home. It wasn’t quite dark, but it was getting close. As we followed a car down a somewhat deserted street things changed. The car in front of us swerved to one side and put on its brakes. I could barely see the outline of a small figure, probably a young boy riding some kind of skateboard across the street very close in front of us. We barely missed him.

I was relieved — and upset. Why would anyone let a young person out on a dark night to ride a skateboard? It was clear to me the situation was wrong and extremely unsafe for this young man. With the earlier time change and with the potential dangers, he needed to learn this important lesson. His parents need to set some new rules about using this kind of equipment at this time of night.

Parents have many responsibilities when they are raising their children. One of the most important involves their safety. The parents need to make some important changes in their life to keep this child, and any other children they have, safe.

The young person out in the dark riding his skateboard needs to also make some important changes. It gets dark earlier now because of the recent time change. He needs to learn to be responsible for the time he is riding, what he is riding, and proper lighting to ride his scooter. He needs to take responsibility in many areas of his life and his parents need to help him learn these lessons.

Self evaluation

I need to make some changes, too. I need to be careful of people like this young man who might be out too late. I need to be sure that I am going under the posted speed limits even though the traffic is light. I need to watch the road ahead of me, but also the road on the side of my car when I pass people walking their dogs at night too close to the road.

Changes aren’t always easy to make, but even making little changes helps each of us remember when we need to make bigger changes. Help your child learn the skill. Helping her learn to pick up her toys or put her clothes away seems unimportant.

Actually, making these kinds of changes sets the foundation for making the bigger changes when they’re necessary. Maybe it’s like getting a D or an F on a paper that shows a child she had better study for the next test. Sometimes it takes something far more alarming to cause people to make these necessary changes.

Life changes are just as difficult for adults to learn than they are for children. It isn’t easy to slow down your driving, read about being a nice person or even paying your bills on time. Calling the people you were supposed to call can be easy to forget. You need to plan ahead for important activities and other important dates.

You need to remind yourself to register to vote and to do other things you’re supposed to do. You need to model being safe on the road, so your child understands what is expected of her driving. You need to take the time to teach your child to be responsible. You need to be a good leader and parent.

Think about what needs to be changed in your life. What should you be doing today to make a difference in your life tomorrow? Change begins with recognizing something needs to be different. Don’t ignore the ways you can improve your life. Begin to make it better now. Make the changes by starting today.

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and former executive director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which published newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents.