There are two reasons why I recommend doing this. First, it sounds much more conversational -- rhetorical questions don't come up a lot in normal conversation. Second, by asking your audience actual questions and gathering answers, you are creating a sense of participation in your speech. Your audiences will pay better attention and remember your speech more if they take an active part in it.

So, next time you feel like saying something like "We've all had a bad meal, haven't we?" and going on without pausing, try saying "How many of you have had a truly BAD meal in past week? Raise your hand if you have! [see how many hands go up] Wow, that's a LOT of bad food, and that's what I'm here to talk about . . ." You'll find that, by actually communicating with your audience in this way, your message will be better received.

Think clearly and logically about where your child might be. Try to figure out why he is missing or running away at this particular time. Follow only those suggestions that are useful and in order of their importance. Keep a notebook recording all steps you've taken and dates. Useful links: Contact police Contact your child's network Search your neighborhood Who to call for help Publicize Prepare for a call from your child How to cope when your child returns home If you need to talk

Suicide

Most young people end up killing themselves because they simply don't know where else to turn. They are in some kind of pain that seems unbearable and they want pain to stop. They end up stopping their entire lives just because they didn't know what else to do.

Here are some links that might help: Why do people kill themselves? Suicide warning signs What do you know about suicide? Need to talk?

MORE INFO HERE: http://joanbramsch.com/counseling/links.shtml

JOAN BRAMSCH is a family person, educator, writer and E-publisher. Her articles appear internationally in print and online. Six of her best-selling adult novels - near one million copies - have worldwide distribution. Her Empowered Parenting Ezine serves 1000 parents around the globe. http://www.JoanBramsch.com mailto:hijoan@joanbramsch.com