Although my almost 16 year old son has no interest in attending dances or the upcoming prom, I have other friends whose teenagers are getting ready for these celebrations. They are busy picking out dresses, talking about who they are going with and what they will do. If I were to guess I would bet that most of my friends will be sending their teens off without taking time to talk about drinking. I don’t say that because they don’t care but I think too often there is an assumption that teens should know better. There may be the false impression that “my child” would never do that.
There needs to be an open, honest discussion with your teenager about drinking and the ramifications of doing so. The obvious is that it’s illegal. Beyond that there are so many other risks, anything from as small as making a complete fool of themselves to being date raped or worse yet, involved in a serious or fatal car accident.
Parents should never make assumptions when it comes to their teens. I like to think that I have a pretty good teenager with a good head on his shoulder. But the truth is, when he is away from me there are pressures that can be caved into. Drinking is one of the most common occurrences at teenage dances and proms so you have to realize the opportunity will more than likely present itself. Will your teen know what to do?
If they don’t hear from you, they could look at it as a lack of concern. But if they hear you express your feelings and why you think drinking is dangerous, there is a greater chance they won’t do it. They may roll their eyes at you but teenagers really do take what you say into consideration. You really are a powerful influence over their lives.
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