Parents are sending their energetic offspring back to the books this week, many of us with a mixture of relief and a bit of sadness. Sadness, because it's just hard to see them growing up so fast and so eager to get out from under our feet.

We hold them close, we read to them, play silly games, and they make us laugh, worry and love.

The kids are, after all, our most precious gifts, and we want the best for them.

We hope the rest of you want that, too.

It's been said, but those tumbling youngsters and sometimes brooding, sometimes sunny teenagers are the most important resource we have.

These kids who seem to be of another species, with their ability to tap into an iPod expertly at the age of five, who can set up a PowerPoint presentation in a blink for a school assignment, are our future leaders, thinkers, workers, protectors, creators, healers. When we're leaning on our canes, we will be leaning on their compassion to care for us, and their expertise to steward the globe long after we're gone. They deserve our best, don't they?

So while many of our readers don't need reminding, we implore you anyway to take extra care of our progeny as you head out on the roads.

ICBC tells us this week that every year in B.C., there's an average of 16,655 crashes, 5,350 injuries and 36 deaths involving children. That's way too much heartache.

Let's not add to those terrible numbers.

Leave for work early, slow down, remain patient with the crosswalk guards and those little skipping children. You were there once. While you're at it, give that tentative little kid on the corner a wave, and be nice to the teens working at their jobs.

We wish them all well and Godspeed on their daily adventures.