I used to be inconvenienced by those school safety zones in front of schools. You know, the short stretch of road near an elementary school which requires you to slow way down? Oh I was too busy to be bothered to slow down. I didn't have children. I would never hit a child with my car. I could still be careful driving faster than 25 MPH I justified. I was speeding over the school safety speed limit with that kind of rationalization. I got away with it until I became a mom 9 years ago.
Now if you asked me how I felt about those school safety zones today - post motherhood - I would have a totally different rationale.
My mornings are a horse race. I'm running through my morning routine every day trying to squeeze out a little more time for walking the dog or vacuuming the carpet. I'm brushing my teeth with an eye on the hair balls that are forming in the corner of the floor. Breakfast is short and sweet as I half listen to the weather report, wolf down some cereal, and slap PB&J together for lunch. It's full throttle to get out the door and drop my son at school and still make it to work on time.
As I'm accelerating down the street my head is still checking off the items on my morning checklist. But now when I see those yellow flags in the distance it's actually a reminder to slow ME down, not just the car. I take my foot off the gas and as I slowly approach the school I feel my blood pressure dropping, my breath is even, I can even hear the songs on the radio and for a second I can daydream and go to a happy place. All that happens while I'm watching the kids in the crosswalk being flagged across by their loving parents and humming to Fleetwood Mac.
Maybe when you see those school safety zones you'll slow down too. Use that time in the car to switch gears, literally, and relax a bit and maybe you'll find yourself in a happy place with Stevie Nicks and the band.
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