You can either be in denial, and simply reject the idea that your teen is getting into trouble, or you can listen to what I have to say. We’re going to be discussing drugs, alcohol abuse, smoking, and other things your teen is facing and may not be telling you.
Growing up isn’t easy, especially the transition into being a teenager. It’s a confusing time with new experiences and new friends, sometimes even a new school. The last thing they want to do is talk to you as a parent and tell you what’s going on in their lives. If you’re one of the lucky parents that don’t have to deal with teen angst, then consider yourself lucky, and try not to ruin what you have going on.
If you look, you’ll easily find a lot of information on what they think your teenage child is going through. Most of them, as you’ve probably noticed, are written by people who haven’t been a teenager in a very long time. It takes years to become a successful expert or writer, which means that their teenage years are far behind them. Things change so often and new things become popular and current fads die out with teens every other day.
I’m not going to say I’m an expert at everything teenagers go through or that I’ve experienced everything there is to know about growing up. The fact is, I’m not an expert and I haven’t experienced everything. What I am though, is a young adult who recently went through the teenage phase, went through rebelling against my parents, experienced the dark parts of growing up. As I’m maturing into adult hood, I’m now willing to talk about those things and hopefully give some insight to you, as a parent, into what your teen may be going through to help you understand them better.
When you have an understanding (or at least an idea) of what your teen is going through, it’ll make life easier for the both of you. You’ll know the signs that your teen is getting into trouble and you won’t have to pry into their lives, which teenagers hate.
In the next part we’ll be discussing why you shouldn’t assume your teenage child is safe from bad influences, even if you live in a great community. It’s called “Don’t Assume, it Makes an Ass Out of U and ME”
photo by Bina Sveda
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Very interesting and thought-provoking series of articles.
There are far too many parents out there that are in need of this sort of info. Can’t believe there are no comments.
I enjoyed the articles immensely. It is great when someone talks about what they know. Funnily enough, few of us do.
I will not criticise your grammar, spelling or misuse of logic – although that is one of my favourite hobbies
– I will restrict myself to my own experience.
I am 52 years old. Yeah, I know, what the hell am I doing using the internet eh? Let alone drugs.
I have an 18 year old son. He bought me a Father’s Day present last June – We’re in the UK – it’s in June here.
Guess what it was. A bag of weed. We had one of the best smokes I have ever had. We are both the giggly “munchies” (that’s what we call it here) type of tokers. It was the first time he had smoked with me.
Now, and here is the point, I had told him all I know about drugs and my experiences with them when I was his age, and they were extensive – as and when I thought it was appropriate whilst he grew up. How it can be great, how it can be not-so-great and how it can be disastrous.
So he felt “it was worth the risk” to give me a bag of weed. Only a hypocrite would have exploded. As he well knew. I did not explode. I shared and we had the best father’s day a father can have.
So, yes, all you say is true. However, all parents can “connect”. They merely need to want to.
I disagree with only a couple of points – Kids hiding the smell is not good enough for parents who were/are tokers themselves – the paraphernalia that comes with drugs is a dead giveaway. Torn ciggie packets – a propensity – and recently acquired skill – to “roll your own”, Rizla papers, ashtrays where the ciggie has been smoked down to the last millimetre, burnt teaspoons, new friends, a sudden liking for yoghurt, a strangely missing Television Set, A Policeman on your doorstep, etc etc etc.
The other point that I disagree with – or maybe, more accurately – that I would take issue with is your implication that MaryJane is a “Gateway” drug.
I sincerely believe that this does no-one any favours – on either side of the debate (the debate being whether drug laws should be relaxed). Yes, I am aware of the arguments on both sides and disagree with both. It seems to me that the argument that “Oxygen is a drug” will suit both camps. Such that drug “naysayers” will immediately call for the removal of oxygen from all since without it they will progress on to cannabis, ecstasy, etc. Well, no-one who has smoked weed has not previously taken oxygen. Those on the drug “yeasayers” side of the fence will immediately start overdosing on oxygen. Yes, it can be done.
Anyway, apologies for the long comment. My wierd spelling is because I am English. That is how it is spelt. See? Not spelled, spelt. Live with it or form your own Government. Damn!
Thanks again for an excellent piece of writing. Feel free to reproduce this if you see fit.
Paul