Parenting Teenagers (12-18) Support Group
This community is focused on the joys, challenges and concerns faced by parents of teenagers (12 to 18 year olds). The major areas of child development include: physical development, perception and sensory development, communication and language development, cognitive development, emotional development and social development.
I really struggle with what feels like "parental peer pressure" in regards to underage drinking... I continually modify my rules trying to keep my 16 year old safe... but feel like it's am impossible issue to compromise fairly on... many of my daughters friends seem to have no rules... I am pretty chill... I trust my daughter, but I'm not stupid either... any suggestions appreciated...
I'm generally perceived to be the permissive parent in the group, but my lines, while few, are drawn hard.
Helped too that my kids saw family members get into bad trouble with alcohol. I'm in the weird position of trying to explain to my kids the appeals of drinking. I don't want them to go hard the other way when they find out that it can feel good.
I don't tell my kids that "alcohol kills", instead I tell them stories about how people can end up alive and in nursing homes having adult diapers changed for the rest of their lives....(I'm a nurse...I've seen it...and it's tragic.)