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| At home | 53% | 624 votes | Total: 1173 votes | |
| No-use | 47% | 549 votes |
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Add to FavoritesTo teach children how to drink alcohol in a responsibly way, is probably a more appropriate choice for parents. As a "no use policy " may leave them unarmed for their exposure in our society today. They can be taught the choice to drink or not drink is always an option, but a healthy respect for alcohol and teaching the responsibility that goes with its use, is a more realistic approach.
The use of alcohol has been part of our culture for a long time. Chances are that children have been or will be exposed to it. During celebrations and gatherings for festivities ,it has been a part of life ,for most of us.
A child lives and breathes his or her environment, especially in their home. The lessons children learn, often go unspoken ,but are learned by observations, and experiences that they have in their family. Drinking wine with dinner was brought to this country from Europe and is often still a part of fine dining.If drinking alcohol is linked to these rare celebrations or a toast on occasion.It takes on only that role.
But ,if alcohol has been abused,with the resulting negative behaviors,delinquent responsibilities, fighting, and incoherent arguments,with visual encounters of the slovenly inebriated.Chances are alcohol will early on leave a bad taste in their mouth. Hopefully so. But,if not, it will represent to children a norm they will unfortunately think it is a an acceptable lifestyle.
To use or not use alcohol can be a religious or personal decision.It has and it will be occasionally interpreted as a shun to those who use alcohol.
I remember that before I had acquired a taste for fine wine. We had relatives that were openly offended when I declined a drink. From that point on they had an attitude about us. I also remember ,not understanding this and its significance at the time.To this couple,the glass of wine was an offer to join in their celebration. And I now know that perhaps, it was I who had shunned them.
Learn more about this author, Olivia Bredbenner.
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No-use
It's called lazy parenting. It's so much easier to be "cool" in your children's eyes than it is to do the right thing and deal with the fact that sometimes your kids are going to think you're the worst person on the planet. You are "so lame." So what!
I have three teenagers and drinking vs no-drinking has been an on-going issue for many years at our home. The rule is, "No drinking until you're 21. Period." Has this rule always been followed? Nope. I wish I could say that our teens followed all the rules all the time, but they don't. That certainly doesn't mean that I throw in the towel...or wave a little white flag of defeat. No way! This is where my job gets hard and I have to correct the behavior or just about die trying.
The statistics on high schoolers who cheat on tests is really high. If I found out one of my children had cheated, I wouldn't say, "Well, statistics say they're going to do it. There's nothing I do to stop it. Matter-of-fact, let me show you how to cheat so that you won't get caught." Is that not the same thing as allowing drinking in your home by underage teens? You're telling them, "It's against the law, but you won't get into any trouble because I'm going to show you how to do this without getting caught."
As the parent of teenagers our biggest challenge hasn't been our kids WANTING to drink. It's been fighting the effects of our kids being in the homes of their friends where the parents allow drinking (when we find out these visits are over). They can say they're trying to teach responsible drinking. They can also say they'd rather them drink at their house than be out on the streets drinking. I'm not buying it. It's lazy parents. Besides, what are you doing letting your teenagers roam the streets? Why is that you're only other option for them?
Be the parent now and their friend when they're adults.
Learn more about this author, Tina Pollard.
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