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Do you understand the magnitude of just how crucial doing this job the best way that you can is?

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Abusing a substance destructively is like riding on a roller coaster without wearing a seat belt. We crave the danger because we want to see how close we can come to death.

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The year I turned seven I overheard my mother discussing a child abuse case she was working on with my father; the little boy wouldn’t make it from the injuries he sustained. She said he wouldn’t let go of her hand when she went to see him.

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Clean up the messes you make. Nothing gets a Tamagotchi’s wheels spinning like sitting in its own fecal matter for a few hours. Don’t be a jerk to your digipet or to yourself: if things are going poorly, fix them.

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I am not advocating that everyone go around with a lacrosse stick and beat their children into fun new shapes, but a solid smack on the behind for a kid who is clearly getting out of line is something that every parent should have in their back pocket. Trust me, you miss it when it’s gone.