Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Holiday Break...a good time to talk
As we approach the holidays and our kids are out of school, it seems a good time to talk once again about underage drinking (not to do it, that is) and drunk driving prevention. Parties are happening almost every night and especially on New Year's Eve and this is an especially deadly time of year. Remind the kids--underage drinking is not acceptable. Remind them to never get in the car with anyone who has been drinking. And most importantly, don't ever put your kids (or another persons kids) in the car with anyone who has been drinking alcohol. Have a safe and happy holiday season!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
http://ping.fm/JRhPu
why do parents drive drunk? (a question that will be asked upon sharing key family related articles on a regular basis)
why do parents drive drunk? (a question that will be asked upon sharing key family related articles on a regular basis)
http://bit.ly/85NVuL
good job Maine, Nebraska, Vermont, South Dakota and Wisconsin...lots of room for improvement in Texas, Wyoming, Pennsylvania and Idaho...
good job Maine, Nebraska, Vermont, South Dakota and Wisconsin...lots of room for improvement in Texas, Wyoming, Pennsylvania and Idaho...
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Leandra
Nov. 18, 2009
Leandra's law passed in New York making it a felony to drive drunk with a child in the vehicle. Leandra was just 11 years old when her friends mother flipped her car killing Leandra. Young people that drink often do become adults that that drive drunk. Not all the time, but a lot of the time.
Another case out of New York that caught the world's attention was that of a mother driving impaired killing herself and three other adults and four children. We received a ton of calls about women and drunk driving following this horrific crash. It is important to know that often these things don't just happen but rather there are patterns of early drinking and impairment that go unchecked and could result in future destruction of families.
As a parent of three girls, I too want to make sure they understand it is about drinking underage and it is about all of the other problems that often stem from that later in life. While this article in TIME is a bit dated, it still rings true today. I have some time before the girls are in high school but my husband and I are committed to protecting them and guiding them to make smart choices.
Leandra's law passed in New York making it a felony to drive drunk with a child in the vehicle. Leandra was just 11 years old when her friends mother flipped her car killing Leandra. Young people that drink often do become adults that that drive drunk. Not all the time, but a lot of the time.
Another case out of New York that caught the world's attention was that of a mother driving impaired killing herself and three other adults and four children. We received a ton of calls about women and drunk driving following this horrific crash. It is important to know that often these things don't just happen but rather there are patterns of early drinking and impairment that go unchecked and could result in future destruction of families.
As a parent of three girls, I too want to make sure they understand it is about drinking underage and it is about all of the other problems that often stem from that later in life. While this article in TIME is a bit dated, it still rings true today. I have some time before the girls are in high school but my husband and I are committed to protecting them and guiding them to make smart choices.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Family dinner--do you eat with your kids?
This interesting fact just came in an email:
Compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (five or more per week), those who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are more than one and a half times likelier to use alcohol? This according to the Importance of Family Dinners V, a new report by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University.
It seems like common sense that if you eat with your kids, they'll be less like to use alcohol. But, we all get so busy with work, school, sports, church/synagogue that sometimes....OK many times for some families....it is just easier to drive through. If that is how it works in your family, don't despair. You can still talk to your kids about underage drinking in the car. Use the conversation starters that are on www.thepowerofparents.org to give you some hints.
With my own daughter, I found that time driving in the car with her was the best time to talk. She often told me things that were really bugging her or going on in her life while we were driving somewhere. Just be sure to turn off the TV/game system if you have one of those in your car so you have his/her full attention. Pop chats, as I like to call them, can be very effective.
Challenges
November 2, 2009
So, my 5 nearly 6 year old daughter has a mind of her own. The only problem is she influences her little sister, often into doing things I don't want them to do. The older daughter says she forgot, or didn't hear me and quickly heads down the street and out of our front yard nearly out of view with little sister in tow. She is adventurous but doesn't understand what could happen and as I call for her to return she sees she is in trouble. All of this to say, she is nearly six, but won't I deal with same kind of thing the older she gets, say 13, 15, etc? According to this Wall Street Journal blog, she could become a great leader because of her pushing boundaries attitude. My goal as a parent and mom is to make sure they all know they are loved. In trying to find ways to discipline and show them love the way they'll respond and hear, I want to figure these things out now so when the challenges of growing up for them increase in difficulty (like a video game), they'll turn to my husband and I versus just their peers.
So, my 5 nearly 6 year old daughter has a mind of her own. The only problem is she influences her little sister, often into doing things I don't want them to do. The older daughter says she forgot, or didn't hear me and quickly heads down the street and out of our front yard nearly out of view with little sister in tow. She is adventurous but doesn't understand what could happen and as I call for her to return she sees she is in trouble. All of this to say, she is nearly six, but won't I deal with same kind of thing the older she gets, say 13, 15, etc? According to this Wall Street Journal blog, she could become a great leader because of her pushing boundaries attitude. My goal as a parent and mom is to make sure they all know they are loved. In trying to find ways to discipline and show them love the way they'll respond and hear, I want to figure these things out now so when the challenges of growing up for them increase in difficulty (like a video game), they'll turn to my husband and I versus just their peers.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
POP, It's Your Influence launch
Tuesday was a great start to POP! Dr. Robert Turissi of PSU, Bill Windsor of Nationwide Insurance (our presenting sponsor :-)) and myself did a radio media tour where we were on 20 radio stations/radio networks across the country all morning. The media company tells us our message reached approximately 11,890,000 listeners!
Hope you got to tune in on a local station or ABC Radio Network or CNN Radio. Listen/watch for more media as we roll out the parent handbook within a month.
Oh yeah...there are also several bloggers on other "Mom" sites blogging about the launch.
Hope you got to tune in on a local station or ABC Radio Network or CNN Radio. Listen/watch for more media as we roll out the parent handbook within a month.
Oh yeah...there are also several bloggers on other "Mom" sites blogging about the launch.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Red Ribbon Week
October 25, 2009
Many schools around the country recognize National Red Ribbon Week this time of month. Crazy socks, buttons, pins, anything to remind elementary kids to never do drugs or alcohol. It is interesting that parents are a great influence on their children's alcohol use. Consider the fact that as a mom, you especially, have lots of power to dissuade your child to not drink underage. You may decide not to do crazy sock day at home to get the point across, but it just may work as a reminder on top of your call to action in this area for the little ones. Now, the older ones are another matter. I'm not there yet, but have heard. One day at a time.
Many schools around the country recognize National Red Ribbon Week this time of month. Crazy socks, buttons, pins, anything to remind elementary kids to never do drugs or alcohol. It is interesting that parents are a great influence on their children's alcohol use. Consider the fact that as a mom, you especially, have lots of power to dissuade your child to not drink underage. You may decide not to do crazy sock day at home to get the point across, but it just may work as a reminder on top of your call to action in this area for the little ones. Now, the older ones are another matter. I'm not there yet, but have heard. One day at a time.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Welcome
Thanks for visiting us at MADD Parents! This is a place for all parents...not just Moms....to talk with other parents about issues they are facing with their teens in regards to underage drinking prevention. I hope that you will use thepowerofparents.org Website when it is launched next week as a jumping on point to help you start or continue lifesaving conversations with your kid(s). Welcome!
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