As a parent, you need to spend a lot of time paying attention to the things your teen does. Your teen will not like that you are asking questions, checking up on them, and more. For their safety, and your peace of mind, it is a necessary evil, especially if you think about the number of fatal accidents that have occurred where an underage teen had been exposed to alcohol.
Ask Questions
Your job as a parent means that you will be nosy and put your nose into your child’s business. It isn’t you being a bad parent. It is you being a better parent and friend to your teen. You should know where your teen is going, who he will be with, and when she will return. You should also know the parents of the teen your child is going to be with. You have a right to know whether they will be driving or their friend. Are they responsible in your opinion?
Be the Best Friend with Rules
You can and should be your teen’s best friend. However, being friendly does not mean that they control their life. You should set a strict curfew and express to them that you will be waiting up. When they come home, talk to them about their night, ask them questions and take note of their answers and their overall stance. Do they appear to have been drinking or are they avoiding eye contact?
To add to the “friendliness” of your relationship, you should talk openly with your teen about alcohol. Tell him that if his friends are drinking, do not get into a car with them. Tell them that drinking as a teen is never, “OK” but if they do wrong, you will be just a phone call away. Express that you will not be mad, you will be happy to know that they are not injured because of a mistake. You also need to make sure that they understand even one drink can be deadly if they or a friend choose to drive after it.
Set a Good Example
Much the same as toddlers are more apt to mimic what you do, your teen will as well. You should never have a drink and drive. You should never ride with someone who has had a drink. You should never offer to give your teen a drink. It encourages them to do it and it is illegal if you are caught giving alcohol to a minor. If you are truly hoping to set a good example, you should avoid drinking heavily yourself.
Remember, teen drinking happens more often than you may realize. There is no single age group, gender, race, or personality trait that makes one teen more likely to drink than others. The smartest teen with the best grades in school is just as likely to die because of an alcohol-related accident as the “trouble maker”. You have to make it change. You have to stay informed and be the friendly, strict parent if you want to ensure that your child does not get into a bad situation that ends their life.