I refuse to concede the following points:
All kids drink
All kids use drugs
All kids have sex
Beccause those statements simply aren't true.
Some kids do. But the minute you decide you're not going to bother talking to your kids about things like sex and drinking because they're going to do it anyway; you have lost. Period.
You would be suprised how much it matters to kids what their parents tell them. Especially if those messages have been consistant throughout childhood. The research supports it: kids listen to their parents. The influence of peers, if parents are making their expectations clear,has been overestimated. This is really good news. So keep talking!
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I think that parents have a much greater influence over their teens than "people" out there would lead you to believe. I think it all comes down to relationship.
ReplyDeleteThank you Trish! You have hit that story head on! I am amazed....as I talk to other moms they just go with "that's just what kids do". It is at the point that I feel almost like I am an overprotective, overbearing, strict mom. I don't like the title of "strict mom". I didn't like strict mothers when I was growing up but I refuse to let my kids just fall into the catagory of "thats just what we do". I want them to exceed all expectations and this starts from how I grew up(it wasn't good). I have a story to tell and some day I will do just that! Hopefully with successful children if I follow my heart and with the help of God!
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