PARENTS NEED TO WATCH CHILDREN

After an incident I witnesses Aug. 24 on Locust Avenue, I must share with
Conway people.

My husband and I were driving down Locust when three children rode their
bikes out in front of my truck. I was driving slowly, and aware of my
surroundings and was able to stop and wait for them to clear the road.

However, one young lady, probably around 5, was struggling with her bike.
Then I noticed her legs getting caught in the bike. She fell on the street
as her friends watched her struggle. I then noticed that she has a
crippling disability of her limbs as she drug herself and the bike out of
the road.

My husband thought it was great that she was trying to ride a bike. On the
other hand, I began to hyperventilate as my blood pressure rose quickly. I
sat in my truck for almost two minutes waiting on her. Not one adult was in
sight. If I was a deranged person, I could have snatched up both girls and
driven off with them. The younger boy would only be able to identify a
white truck. If I had been a teenager I probably would have whipped through
the street trying to scare her out of the way not knowing of her struggling
and possibly hit her.

Parents, take care of your children. It's a 24-hour-a-day job and it was
the hardest job I ever had. Why do houses have back yards in Conway when so
few are used? Parents, be visible when they are not in the yard and take
them to the park to ride their bikes. Better yet, get off the couch and
ride with them.

I find it amusing that parents are so upset over drug testing when those
aren't the real issues of life. My 18- and 21-year-old children will tell
you that many of the kids in Conway they know use or have used drugs. I had
one in public and one in private school. Everyone yaks about our right and
freedom being invaded. Maybe it's the parents we need to look at instead of
the children.