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Underage drinking

June 5, 2011 By
A wreath Kolsch Beer - LA Times of Kölsch. 

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Underage drinking can be very dangerous and is completely illegal. Stopping the underage epidemic starts with the parents. Parents have a huge influence in their teenagers lives and should be discussing these types of issues before they happen.

Alcohol is the number one abused substance in the United States. Teenagers use alcohol more then they use tobacco and drugs. Most of the alcohol consumed by teenagers is in the form of binge drinking. This type of drinking has led to approximately 190,000 emergency room visits in 2008.

Some of the problems that underage drinkers may have include DUI arrests. This may present a problem getting employment in the future. Some employers look at driving and criminal records before hiring employees. Sexual assault can also be a consequence of drinking. All too often we hear about a young female being drugged while drinking or getting too drunk and ending up getting raped or even killed. Underage drinking can also lead to the use of illegal drugs. Once a teenager sees how good the buzz feels, they will want to experience other highs.

Having open communication with your children is key to avoiding these types of problems. Discuss with your child the dangers of drinking, drinking and driving, and what could happen if you drink too much. Educate your children. Some of the best ways to curb underage drinking is to show them the effects and what could happen.

Filed Under: Pressures & Privileges Tagged With: , ,

How to Help Your Child During the First Week of College

December 15, 2010 By

The first week of college can be challenging and exciting for students. Even the most independent, easy-going teenager may feel overwhelmed at times by all of the new experiences and new things to learn. Shyer teenagers may have a tough time opening up with new people and students who struggle with new situations can feel adrift in the first week. Parents can be a great support system from home, helping their new college student to navigate the tough first week on campus.

Check In, But Not Too Much
Send an email to say hi on the first day and wish them a great first day of orientation or class. Email can be a great low-pressure way to check in without pressuring them to reply immediately. Resist the urge to call every day or every few hours for updates, the schedule will be packed at first and it is important to give a little space to get settled in.

Answer When They Call
If your college student is calling home a lot, chances are they are experiencing some very normal homesickness. Answer the calls and provide lots of support, encouragement, and love. Be careful to remind them that they are capable of handling everything on their own and eventually, you will ease them into calling once or twice a week to check in on a schedule, or calling only with news or update instead of looking for help.

Flood the Mailbox
One place you can focus your energy is in the regular old mail. Send a card in the mail so that they’ll get some mail during the first week when they are struggling to find their way around campus, you can also encourage other family members–siblings, grandparents, and cousins–to send mail early on to brighten your college student’s day. Packages with snacks, new office supplies, and favorite things can help to keep a smile on your college student’s face during the uncertain first few days.

Filed Under: Pressures & Privileges Tagged With: , , ,

Buying a Carl F. Bucherer Watch for Our Son’s Graduation

December 13, 2010 By

Our son is finishing up his last year of high school soon.  After a rough start and some struggles with grades, he is now finishing up on the Honor Roll with almost a 4.0 grade average.  We could not be prouder of what he has achieved.  Along with great grades and extracurricular activities, he is also the captain of his high school’s basketball team.  This led to a tough decision as he was offered two sports scholarships to smaller schools and an academic scholarship to a larger school with an offer to try out for the basketball team.  After a long process and a lot of contemplating, he chose the academic scholarship because of the school’s reputation.  Now, when the time comes in early summer, we are looking to buy him something special for graduation.  He is, after all, saving us a lot of money by getting that scholarship.

With that in mind, my wife and I were discussing what to buy him for graduation.  He already had a car that he bought with money he earned part-time.  We wanted to get him something nice.  Something that could last a long time and would remind him of that special day each time he looked at it.  One of the first things we thought of was some nice jewelry.  More specifically, we thought we would look at something like cuff links, a nice ring marking his graduation with a birthstone or a watch.  In the end, we chose a watch.  Not just any watch though.  We were online and found a website with a great selection of Carl F. Bucherer watches.  The one we bought was a beautiful industrial design that would be great to wear both casually and in formal occasions.  We are sure he will love the gift and we cannot wait to give it to him after he walks across the stage with diploma in hand.

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Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Relating to Your Teenagers’ Friends

December 6, 2010 By

Meeting your teenagers’ friends can be a challenge for parents. It’s tempting to judge their personal style, habits, and speech as a reflection of your own child, but it’s important to hold your judgments at first. Being kind to your teenagers’ friends will help your relationship and prevent unnecessary conflicts from bubbling up at home.

Be Welcoming
When your teenager brings friends into your home, you want to encourage this by making it a welcoming place for them. Offer them food or drink the way you’d greet any guests, introduce yourself, and then make yourself scarce and give them space to relax and the privacy that all teenagers crave. Making your home a safe place for them to hang out will help encourage your teenager to include you and the home in future plans, knowing that their friends are welcome too.

Resist Making Judgments
When one of your teenager’s friends dresses differently or has traits that strike you as less than desirable, it’s easy to make judgments about your own teenager as well. Resist this to avoid conflicts. Just because a friend has a piercing doesn’t mean your teenager is planning to get one tomorrow, nor does it make him or her any less of a good person. Take time to ask questions and find out what your teenager’s friends are really like before you define them by stereotypes. Your teenager will notice and appreciate your openness.

Talk If You Have Concerns
If you are concerned about one of your teenager’s friends or believe they may be in danger or abusing substances, talk to your teenager about in privately first. They may be able to give you insights into what you saw. Approaching the subject calmly will help your teenager to give you the facts and encourage them to talk with you about anything that is going on in their circle of friends.

Filed Under: Social Netowrking Tagged With: , , ,