It only seems like yesterday I waddled into the maternity unit and came out only a few hours later with my daughter. Sadly its more years than I want to remember, this year she will be 16. Where has that time gone I really don’t know? It scary to think she is nearly all grown up and nearer she gets to it the more serious the outside world has become. Gone are the days you could walk the streets without the fear of anything happening to you. I can’t quote where I read it but I read somewhere that its not that there are more murders, attacks and other horrible things happening but the fact that its reported more now. People are less scared to go to the police when something happens and the media loves to report the bad news more than good news.
It seems like every day the media are reporting on teenagers doing this, teenagers doing that. One of the big connections is teens and alcohol. I don’t want my teenager to be tarred with the same brush, I don’t want to see my teenagers face on the most wanted list for some horrible crime. We strive to bring up our children correctly but they aren’t born clutching a baby manual and most of it you have to learn on the hoof as you go.
Drinkaware are tackling the 10% rise (since 2001) of pure alcohol consumed by drinkers in the UK and I am behind it all the way. We parents are the main suppliers of alcohol to 15 – 17 year olds with 61% of teens who had drunk at home in the last week saying their parents provided them with the alcohol.
Not that I am one of that number as I am a tea total, not saying I have always been this boring but my body and alcohol just don’t mix well together. I have had my wild moments and I know my children will one day want to know what the fuss is about. I just hope they both talk to me about it and more importantly I listen.
Drinkaware have also created this nifty video on talking to teens about alcohol. If it helps one of you talk to your teen then it’s hopefully one less teen in the news. Please share to other parents who might find it helpful.
This article is sponsored by Drinkaware
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