This is a very interesting video topic that was shared on Her Channel and I just have to discuss this because I have a very strong opinion on how I will keep my kids in the loop about alcohol yet not so 100% sure on how to deal with the drug talk.
From my experience I dealt well with my father who spoke to me about drugs and alcohol from a young age. You see, I thank my Dad for this open nature, why? Because even though I did get into some fun high school night life times, I always went to my Dad to ask questions and he would tell me his full out right opinion on what this drug could do, if he felt it was healthy for me or not. My Dad was pretty straight up with me and because of that I never got into cocaine or some of the other drugs I knew were around back in the day.
Although I steered clear of most drugs, I was a BIG beer and hard liquor drinker back in the day, Jim Beam anyone? He is was my buddy when I first started drinking. I spent my first night drunk losing control of my bladder and being called “pee pants”, so really I have some majorly embarrassing stories that I can share with my children to keep them from getting too far into the situations I did. My children are not old enough to get into “what Mama did back in the day” but they do know what alcohol is, they know it is for adults and my five year old actually calls it “adult soda”. I am okay with this, because I know my children would never get into “adult soda” as they know what it is.
Curiosity is one of the main factors for teens trying out things and to me, if I am as open as my father was I really do think my children will not feel they need to “rebel” against my wishes or dabble too much into alcohol and drugs. I got a DWI at age 18 and lost my license for blowing .05 which is legal if you are 21 but not so much when you are underage. I have stories to share and I will be open & honest as well as age appropriate because that is what worked for me.
Of course, I say “that worked for me” and as I read what I am writing, clearly I made some bad choices but I do think that no matter how hard you try to parent and educate your child they will still make these mistakes on the path to adult hood and that’s okay. Children and teens need to learn there are consequences for their actions as part of the path to growing up, so I don’t think you can ever know for sure what method will work for different personality children.
I am willing to go with the open and as honest as possible without telling “too many inappropriate details” approach & hope like heck it works!
What worked for you or how do you think you will handle this talk?
We’ve already spoken to our 8 year old about drugs and alcohol. We’ve told him how wrong it is for someone to drink and drive and that drugs can kill people. He also gets upset when he sees someone smoking cigarettes. We hope he stays with this mindset through the teen peer pressure years!
I will talk to my kids about drugs the same way my father did with me. My explained to me that drugs can kill teenagers. He then had me watch a show about this teenager that died while experimenting with drugs. I declined drugs when given the chance to use them. Alcohol is a whole different story. It seems like (especially where we live) it is SO common for kids to throw drinking parties. Binge drinking kill teenagers as well. I suppose all I can do is talk to them and offer that they have friends over to do “safe” and “fun” activities and not to give in to what others are doing. Also it helps to have them occupied with sports- where drinking and using drugs is prohibited. If caught they actually get kicked off the team.
my husband and I enjoy having a few beers every weekend, and because of that hopefully my daughter will see that you can be responsible with your alcohol. She is only 3, but it’s still important to be a role model at that age with alcohol. Once she is school aged we’ll talk about drugs and why they’re not good. I am not going to be the parent that enables a teen to drink, but as we all know, we all find our ways to do it. The most important thing I will convey to her as a teen is that she should NEVER get in a car to drive after drinking or ride in a car with someone who has been.
i was like you… i was a beer drinker. Hopefully when the times comes I will figure it out.. right now im pregnant so im not to worried
I am not sure really. I know when Noah is 15 I will sit him down and make him watch Requiem for a Dream. It’s a movie that shows the effects of drug use. I will also have him watch Cartoon All Stars too when he is a little bit older.
I think it’s important to sit them down at an early age and discuss the effects that drugs and alcohol can have, and how it could kill you eventually and lead to other diseases that were easily preventable. Have an open relationship and your children will discuss any issues that will come up.