You say Potato and I say Pototo

So what is the easiest and most effective way to communicate as a family about serious issues? How do men and women approach parenting and tough topics, like underage drinking? This article provides some insight. Generally, working together and listening are good starts but that may be harder than it seems. With an equal goal of raising responsible, healthy and safe children who become compassionate, generous, smart, disciplined, productive and talented adults, it may be challenging to get onto the same page when parenting, but not impossible.

Keep the conversation going

As I talked about in December, the holidays were another good opportunity to talk to your teens about not drinking until they are 21 and about never getting in the car with a drinking driver. I had that talk...again...while my daughter was home from college break. While she always tells me, "I know Mom. I don't drink", she also told me that she does go to parties and there is often booze. She is always the designated driver and has found ways to say "no thanks" without being seen as a goody two shoes. Your teen can do this, too. Keep the conversation going...you are doing a great job!

Drinking in Front of the Kids

What is more American that burgers and beer? Likely we'll all see a lot of this around July 4th, a celebration of Independence Day. Parents are likely to run into situations where they are drinking in front of their children or teens but what is the best way to handle this and communicate to your children? Mine are only 14 months, three and six. I won't have the conversation for a while. This is a good article to help navigate parents.

Boy Found in the Snow

This is a very sad and tragic story. Boy meets friends. Boy drinks with friends. He is 15 years old and somehow when friends drop him off at home, they say he goes in but father finds him off in snow and woods next morning nearly dead. Eventually, he dies. 15 years old...a rite of passage some say. Another reason providing alcohol to teens must stop.

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Is parenting like a vacation in that he first part you are trying to relax and figure everything out but by that time it's over? (generally speaking) Or, is it like the old adage, life is what happens when you are making plans for it?

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keeping your eyes on the road more important than ever before....what are your distractions in the car?

life gives you lemons, make lemonade...or in this instance make poor choices and buy the lemonade
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why do parents drive drunk? how do parents deal with their stress?
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