My wife and I were out for a walk yesterday, enjoying the beautiful spring weather. A couple of brothers rode by on their bikes. I’d say they were probably 12 and 10 year olds. About 20 feet past us the younger one stopped and took off his helmet. His older brother yelled, “Put your helmet back on.” The younger answered, “No, I don’t need it.” The older brother hesitated for only a second before saying, “I’m telling.” The younger brother put his helmet back on.

This story exemplifies the decision making process that we use throughout our lives. An adult form of this debate is, “Do I go 65 on the highway because it’s safer to go that speed or because if I go faster I might get a ticket from a state trooper. Or, do I decide to go 80 anyway figuring nothing can happen to me?

In the most recent issue of Time Magazine, an article examines the way the teenage brain works. The study concludes that the part of the brain that is the latest to form is that which decides, “I’ll do this because it’s the right thing to do.” The same study states that the best form of discipline for teenagers provides them with clear immediate consequences to their actions. In other words, “I’m telling,” does get results with teenagers.

The hope is that we will all get better at making decisions for the right reasons, not just to avoid ending up in trouble.