“I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Anheuser-Busch’s Family Talk About Drinking program. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”
In my opinion, being a parent can be one of the toughest jobs. I am a mother of four children and there are many days of the month or even week that can be full of chaos where I want to pull my hair out. I am also one of Anheusar-Bush’s “Family Talk About Drinking” Ambassadors with information to share about talking to your teens about drinking.
Of my four children, my two oldest are my daughters that are teens in high school. With having children in high school comes a whole new world of problems that can be stressful to not only your children but to parents as well. Not only will you have to make your that your child is keeping up with their grades in their classes because we know if they want to look well for college, they need to have good grades, there is the social aspect of high school. No matter what crowd of friends your child hangs out with, there are always risks that you need to try to be prepared for.
My oldest daughter just had junior prom this past weekend. While many of the kids at her school went to parties after the dance, my daughter chose to come home instead of even trying to go out. For days before the dance she talked with her sister about all the different parties that were supposed to be happening. Luckily my husband and I have explained on multiple occasions what can happen at parties. Luckily my daughter isn’t so much of a risk taker, she didn’t even ask to go out and was happy to grab some good food with mom when I picked her up.
This was just one night I was lucky with though. There are many more I will have to face with just her. My second oldest is a freshman that also loves to dress up and go to dances and hang out with her friends. As a mom of four children, I definitely have my hands full!
The first step in talking to our kids about drinking doesn’t involve our kids at all. Instead, it’s about sitting ourselves down and asking ourselves some tough questions. Here are some questions you might want to ask yourself:
- What do we really think about alcohol and underage drinking?
- What rules do we want to communicate? Are we prepared to back up our advice with
- our own actions?
- When it comes to conversations with our kids, what are we really trying to achieve?
- Are we trying to protect our kids from the world, or are we trying to give them the skills
- they need to make smart decisions?
Did you realize there are three different stages of parenting with each stage having a very important impact on your child’s future.
Three Stages Of Parenting
- Teacher (ages 1-7)
- Facilitator (ages 8-13)
- Coach (14-21+)
Although all of these stages are difficult, I have found Stage 3 as one of the hardest that I have yet to deal with. For more information on each of these stages and to download the Parent Guide, visit: https://www.facebook.com/ABFamilyTalk
In addition to the FREE Parent Guide, be sure to visit the Anheuser-Busch website for helpful information on talking with your teens about drinking…
All you can do is hope they make the right choices and that they know you will be there for them and they can always call you if they need help for ANY reason! So far you’ve done a fantastic job.
I still remember the conversations with my parents about drinking. My Mom and Dad really instilled in us that just because others do it doesn’t mean we have too.
This is such a needed post. If we as parents don’t teach and help guide our kids who is?
I remember talking with my parents about drinking. They really made me feel comfortable speaking with them about it. It helped that they also let my sister and I know that no matter what, they could pick us up anywhere if we didn’t feel comfortable, or just needed a ride.
Talking to your kids about drinking is so important. Once you educate, they know how to make the right choices.
Thank heaven I am years away from this, but I know they’ll go fast. I think I am prepared for many different talks. Using alcohol is high up there as priorities go. I can use all the advice I can get. Those high school years can really be scary.
I am not sure my parents ever had the talk with me, but I actually hate alcohol. I think this is a great program though for all.
I have a teen in the house and he knows not to drink. Its very scary to think they would drink.
I’m glad they are giving parents tools to help them talk to kids about such an important issue. I don’t have teens yet and I’m scared for those days. They sound hard!
This is such an important topic for parents to talk with their children about! Great post!
What a great program, thanks for sharing. I love this, easy way to spread education and awareness.
Lucky you Momma, looks like you’ve taught her well. Thanks for all the tips. I hope to be that lucky when proms come around.
This is such an important topic to discussion with children BEFORE it becomes an issue.
I won’t be there for a few more years, but it’s so important to teach teens to be responsible about alcohol. I’m going to hope my kids make the decision not to drink, but I also want them to know they can call me instead of getting into a car if they’ve been drinking or a friend has.
That’s an important cause for me, so I totally appreciate you doing this. I hope it makes a difference!
That is definitely something that needs to be talked about a lot and we do. Our teen definitely knows that the lines of communication is open with us. Her safety is our highest priority. Thanks for sharing this reminder.
I had a couple of family members who had drinking problems as adults and I was able to watch how their addiction damaged their lives. I really feel like it helped me to understand the dangers of drinking and as a result I didn’t drink at all until much later than most people. I think communicating about the dangers of drinking is really the key to helping kids make good choices.
I’m ok with drinking in moderation but binge drinking is definitely a no no. It’s definitely a discussion to be had. People don’t realize the repercussions chronic binge drinking can do on your liver and in turn, your life.
This is such a great thing! Drinking in moderation is one thing, but overdoing it, that should not be done, this is great to get the word out.
My parents never talked to us about drinking. Being ethnic, wine and moonshine were always within reach. Funny, none of my siblings drink and never quite understood why my friends wanted to drink. I’ll have an occasional glass of wine with company, but that’s about it. I think sometimes kids want what they shouldn’t have. My kids are in their teens now and hubby and I have sat down and talked with them – so far, so good.
Congrats, what an important role to take too – that is great news! Eduction is key, kids need to hear this!!
I’m so glad she isn’t much of a risk-taker! She sounds like she has a good head on her shoulders.
It is so important to talk to your children about this before they are exposed to alcohol at parties or other events. That way, they know the dangers involved.
oh man, what a scary thought, but so necessary. my girls are so little, but there is so much information we will have to pass on to them. best to tell them sooner than later before they are exposed and have to make a decision.