The Bill of Rights for Children...Part 2

I. Voice:  
We, the Children and Youth of Portland and Multnomah County, are entitled to a voice and opinion in decisions that will impact our lives.

a. Voice in Education: Students should have a say in their education and should be represented on school boards and other decision-making bodies.

b. Voice in Health: We have the right to know the reasoning behind any medical decision made on our behalf, as well as alternate options.  We recognize that children should not have control over specific medical decisions; however, we expect that children are completely informed of such decisions and their consequences and as they mature are increasingly engaged in their own health decisions.  

c. Voice in the Community: It is our right to be accepted and active members of the community.  We have the right to ask questions, receive answers, and have our views acknowledged by adults when making decisions that affect our lives.  We have the right to engage in respectful and open dialogue with adults and we insist on being taken seriously when we participate.  

"With great power, comes great responsibility!" - Ben Parker, Spiderman

If you have read any of my previous posts, you will know how I feel about the importance of parents and their kids in constant communication. I want to know what my kids think. I want to know what is going on in their schools that I am not there to witness. I would love for my children to be active members in society.

However...yep, this is where I lay it out for you...

*** BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR ***

Perhaps you don't realize that there are already open doors to become actively heard in your school and your community. There are City council meetings and School council positions that involve becoming a class representative...at our PTA meetings we have a student representative to give a voice to the students. But this act of voicing your opinion in a civilized way requires some sacrifice on your (our youth's) part as well.

1. You have to invest the energy to become familiar with what we are discussing at those meetings if you INSIST ON BEING "TAKEN SERIOUSLY." For example:

How would our "children and youth" treat me if I showed up at the high school for lunch one day while there was some drama happening with so and so's boyfriend giving her the cold shoulder while he was now flirting with another girl...I walk into that situation not knowing the history or the names of the people you are discussing...but I try to jump into the conversation to give my two cents. All of the high school students already involved would look at me like I had bats flying out of my ears! I would not be taken seriously there either...

BE INFORMED!

2. You have to invest the time to show up at these meetings:

Lets say that there is a city council meeting and the first home football game on the same night at the same time. All of your friends want to go to the football game...WHAT DO YOU DO? You probably don't want my answer on this one...but unless you are seriously motivated to act on the "Right to Have a Voice," GO VIKINGS!!! (or whatever team you are cheering for!) To be heard, you have to be present! If you don't take it seriously, don't expect us to think you are!

As far as the Health item...This we give you in doctor/parent recommended dosages. Sorry, there is no other way to put it.

According to scientific research, the information the human brain can process, analyze and form comprehensive decisions about...is based on...drum roll please...your age determined cognitive development! (just to let you know...smoking illegal subsances has a negative effect on this!)

When she broke her arm, I did not need to tell my 7 year old in detail the difference between a compressed fracture and a green-stick fracture...I did show her the x-rays because it was "totally cool" that they could take pictures under her skin...but as far as the treatment methods, all she needed to know was that I had her best interest at heart, and that every moment she was feeling pain...I was as well. (She did get to pick out the "hot pink" color for the cast though.)

Too young to be counted in what you are talking about here? Well, I don't think that my fifteen year old will suffer any truama that will end me up on Oprah one day discussing how I ruined her life because all that I told her was that a sprained toe does not require a cast and/or crutches! No further detail needed.

I am not making light of this...ok, those examples may have been a bit. But if there is a serious risk to your health, and you are in pain (whether an adult or child) what we want (ALL WE WANT!) is to get better as soon as possible.

Based on age and maturity level I WILL be talking to you...I do realize that you are in training to do all of this independently someday...but until you are completely out of them, please trust that while you are a minor, you are in good hands.

Bottom line:

IF YOU WANT TO TALK...WE WANT TO LISTEN!