But All The Other Parents…
“No?! All the other parents let their kids have alcohol parties at their home. They know they’re having sex too, but they think it‘s better to let them do it at home instead of out there somewhere. Really, Mom, you’re such a dork.”
Whatever you do, don’t be intimidated. Stand your ground. Her friend’s parents may or may not be allowing their kids to do these things, but you are responsible for your daughter. It is to her you owe the common sense to know what she can and cannot handle. She cannot handle this kind of freedom. It is such a difficult issue for so many adults, your teen is not ready to make these types of decisions especially under the influence of alcohol or other substances of abuse.
If you’ve decided to be a dork, understand that you have saved your teen from one of the most common causes of unintentional pregnancy, sex under the influence of alcohol. You have spared her from a common cause of sexual assault. You have spared her from the most common cause of accident and injury (the leading cause of death among teens) alcohol.
Your job is to parent your teen. They may try and make you feel bad about this, but you will earn their respect by standing your ground. Your teen does not understand the consequences the way you do. They are hoping deep down you will help them or better force them to do the right thing. You know this because if you were to indulge them and something were to go terribly wrong, they would look at you and ask “Why weren’t you there to protect them?, Why weren’t you the parent?” After all, they’re just a teen.
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