Because talking to our kids about drinking is one of the most important things we can do for them….
It never fails that when prom and high school graduation season gets here we start hearing about accidents that have occurred due to underage drinking. We never think it will be us getting that knock at the door in the middle of the night, but it happens, to the best of us. Our children never think it will be them lying in a hospital bed, but it happens…and that is why we need to prepare our children ahead of time.
We sit our boys down and have a conversation with them about alcohol and the risks of underage drinking. I like to keep the mood light, yet serious. What I mean by that is that I don’t want them to think it’s just another lecture. I allow my children to ask me questions while I listen to what they have to say and I answer to the best of my ability. My husband and I feel that having an open relationship with our children is the key to honesty.
We allow them to speak and we listen. Please take a moment to let that sink in. Not all parents allow their children to speak, nor do they hear what their children are telling them. I want my children to always feel comfortable talking to me, even if they are at a party at midnight calling me to pick them up because everyone around them is drinking and they don’t want to ride in the car with a drunk driver.
Speaking with my teen about alcohol wasn’t as complicated as I thought it might be. We’ve had discussions in the past, but I know that the reminder is always a good thing, and we continue to have discussions to keep it fresh in his mind. I think he’s a little more comfortable with the subject now that he’s older and we’ve had discussions before. He knows what we expect of him and he knows the consequences that could come if he is careless and disobeys our rules.
Have you taken the time to talk to your child(ren) about the consequences of underage drinking?
There was a study done (GfK Roper Youth Report) that showed that parents have been the greatest influence on teens’ decisions about drinking alcohol ages for 20 years.
In fact, this year’s report shows a 24% increase in parents’ influence since 1991.
Did you know that Anheuser-Busch has shared the Family Talk About Drinking program with parents for more than 20 years? It’s a great way for them to provide tips on having an open dialog about alcohol with your children of all ages.
It’s never too late to talk to your children about under age drinking.
I would like to encourage each and every one of you to take a moment (I promise, it won’t take long) to visit FamilyTalkAboutDrinking.com to learn more.
I found it interesting that at FamilyTalkAboutDrinking.com they have 3 main stages of parenting. These include:
Being a Teacher—for ages 1-7
Being the Facilitator—for ages 8-13
Being the Coach—for ages 14-21 and older.
The role that I played when talking to my teenage son was the Coach. As a parent of a teen it is my duty to help coach my son through situations that he may encounter with alcohol, because let’s face it…at this age, he’s going to come across it as some point or another—if he hasn’t already.
MJ Corcoran is a certified educator and parent coach and he is sharing tips with parents on the FTAD website. Some of these tips include:
Find a Window of Opportunity to Talk to Your Child: When you have a teenager that window of opportunity can open and close fast. We can use prom and graduation to continue the conversation around underage drinking. We need to set clear boundaries and encourage good decision-making this prom and graduation season.
Take Time to Connect with Your Teen: There are 2 things you can do to connect with your teen: listen and respect their opinion. In turn, they will be much more likely to talk with you about the tough issues in life that come up—like underage drinking.
Ask Your Child Open-Ended Questions: During prom and graduation season, be sure to ask open-ended questions to help your teen think through potential scenarios involving alcohol that they may come across in life.
Encourage Accountability: A text is not enough in the busy time that leads up to prom and graduation. Encourage your child to check in with a phone call. This will ease your mind and teach your child accountability.
It’s never too late to talk to your child about underage drinking.
Visit FamilyTalkAboutDrinking.com for helpful information when preparing your talk with your child.
Also, be sure to check out the FTAD Facebook page.
Leave a Reply