Oh Give Me a Break

Teenagers, wow how do we handle each and every problem and oh my God they are so wild and bad now a days. They do so many drugs and alcohol and the crazy parties until all hours. Kids are having sex so very early. What are we saying?

I am a mother in her forties and I have had so many experiences with not just my children but relatives and friends. I sat back the other night and my daughter just wanted to go to a party that had drugs and alcohol were be served and not one parent present. My daughter promised she didn't want to partake in the illegal stuff; she just wanted to be there to have some fun. Yes, she was very honest about the particulars but how could I be okay with this and how many times have we heard about kids being drugged at parties. Again she was very honest about the party and we didn't live far and her plan even included an other mother was picking them up at; get this 3am is her daughter's curfew. Maybe out of order but what in Gods name is any sixteen year old young lady doing out at 3 am????

Anyway, things were planned so well as far as my daughter was concerned but I was not happy with the plans and she was to be home at her curfew on the weekend, midnight. Not happy at all, she did come home just after midnight. No she did not understand why and she just wanted to have fun with her friends. I DO understand but all the following questions popped up. First how can there be drugs and alcohol at each and every party we hear about in this day of age? Where are the police? What are parents thinking to allow kids especially underage to drink at home? How can drinking at home be just okay? Do you realize kids are at school everyday stoned/high and even become stoned or high at school? Scary but true.

There are many other questions but I need to touch on the police issue a little first. Not long ago there was a terrible accident that almost took the lives of three young ladies.

While waiting at the hospital an O.P.P constable made the comment that the adult man (who was unharmed of course) who was supplying these girl (underage) with alcohol has been under the watch of the police for over a year and will be dealt with accordingly. Why did they wait so very long and keep in mind the one girl is fourteen years old. As my husband said to that O.P.P constable, "What were the police waiting for, death to make the difference?" I realize there is a there is so much more to touch on this subject but lets move on.

As a parent I feel if we teach our children right from wrong from the very start and never stop teaching them and respecting them it is a great start. Now real life gives us more to work on to extend this. For instance, keeping them busy with sports or music or anything positive sounds good, but wait, we have and still to give you now an example on how I feel the adults have been letting down our future, here I go: had a child in hockey and when it came time for out of town games the alcohol and wow drugs too came along with the parents, even open and on the buses and in the hotels during tournaments. Kids left unattended running the halls while parents underwent their as they called it, "well deserved downtime." Our child then was approximately eight years old. Many times we were not completely accepted with the other parents because we didn't party with them and we did feel we were there for our child first. Next example, a child in dance lessons again going out of town for competitions happens a few times per year.

OH GIVE ME A BREAK PAGE 2

The teacher/coach told the older girls (not yet of age) if they had fake ID not to forget it because they planned to go out to clubs when possible. How can this be happening?

Yes, I did bring both of these issues up at appropeate times but to my knowledge nothing has changed, drinking is still happening on the hockey buses/ tournament hotels and heaven forbid if a parent disagrees with the Nationals or other hockey associations if you hope for your son/daughter to make the team the next year. Yes, everyone says these things in the privacy of their homes or in the smoking area of the local arena but never can this be said out loud, WELL I HOPE someone can hear what I am saying.!

My main point is, what the adults have been showing our young people really and yes, the voice of these young adult should be heard more clearly. Oh lets not forget the people that say, it's all about choices and what choice our children make will justify the consequences. Really, what choices do we give our future adults if we purchase alcohol for them (as long as they only drink in the house) and how do we teach our children if the rest of the adults don't or won't step up to the plate of doing the RIGHT thing.

I want to say so much more because it is right, but get this even if I were to sign this list of concerns and opinions my children may suffer consequences they don't deserve. What a crazy world we live in. As for my parenting skills I try my hardest to stay informed and tell my children as often as I can how much I love and respect them and never have a day that a hug