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<p>On second thought, why not just lock up the kids? Sounds like it’d be a lot less hassle than locking up the liquor, the medicine cabinet, the car, the fridge, the laundry room…! ;)</p>
<p>If it wasn’t illegal, I would like to lock up my girls until they turn 30.</p>
<p>My daughter had a sleep over once where they randomly decided to sleep in the bathroom. She and her friend slept in the tub and and another 4-5 slept on the floor. The first i knew about it was when my 17 year old son got up to go to the bathroom - got the surprise of his life and knocked on my bedroom door to come use my bathroom. </p>
<p>I just thought they were being silly but maybe I should have checked the alcohol bottles!</p>
<p>Keeping alcohol away from teens is a good idea but it is not enough. Children learn from what they see their parents do. Children who see their parents drinking alcohol regularly will learn that alcohol is ok to drink. Children who do not see their parents drinking will reach the opposite conclusion.</p>
<p>Are you saying if children see their parents drink regularly would more likely to drink behind their parents’ back?</p>
<p>Sorry but that is so not true^ I have known teetotalers whose kids end up alcoholics and alcoholics whose kids grow up very cautious of alcohol because they have seen the results of abuse. I do enjoy the occasional drink like a margarita when we go out for a meal. My kids have grown up seeing me enjoy a drink with a meal - they have never seen me drunk and have never ever seen me have a drink and then drive.</p>
<p>it just becomes more interesting if it is taboo.</p>
<p>We teach our kids to drive. We should teach them to drink responsibly and in moderation, before we send them into the real world.</p>
<p>Whether that is allowing them a beer or a glass of wine at a family dinner, or sitting down and discussing the dangers of alcohol, we can’t let them figure it out on their own. They need our guidance, to understand how important making good decisions revolve around these adult decisions.</p>
<p>We can only do our best. My kids know that we have a bit of alcohol from time to time with meals and they have tried it. Both of my kids hate being out of control or making fools of themselves, which STRONGLY discourages them from doing any significant experimenting with alcohol or any drugs, tho they admit they have been offered opportunities.
It is important to have a general awareness of the meds in your household (especially pain killers and stronger meds) and to keep an eye on the amounts.<br>
My kids have both shown a STRONG dislike even for meds that are prescribed for them because they don’t like how it makes them feel and feel and suspect they are likely to feel really junk from drugs & alcohol because they often have unpleasant side effects from meds.
Still, we can only do our best and hope all our kids exercise good judgment and are aware of their surroundings and where it is safe to experiment if they plan to do so.</p>
<p>^^ My daughter and i both get violently ill from prescribed narcotic type pain killers so will only take advil or tylenol even after surgery. Hopefully that will keep her from ever even considering trying anything like that.</p>
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<p>What I am saying is that parents are role models at all times. Although there are always exceptions, but what children observe their parents doing becomes acceptable conduct. Parents who smoke in front of their children are teaching their children that smoking is ok. Parents to yell and fight in front of their children are teaching their children that yelling and fighting are acceptable means of communication. Parents who drink in front of their children are teaching their children that alcohol consumption is acceptable. Parents who get drunk in front of their children are teaching their children that drinking in excess is acceptable behavior. </p>
<p>There are always exceptions, but if you want to teach your children that drinking is unusual behavior, then don’t do it yourself in front of them.</p>
<p>My kids have never seen any extended family member drunk or drink more than a glass or two and even that only rarely (generally special ocassions). To date, no one in our extended family seems to have any problems with alcohol.</p>
<p>My brother & his wife & in-laws drink much more heavily and regularly. When they’re with our extended family, they’re the heaviest drinkers, by far. When they’re with her family, they’re the lightweights.</p>
<p>No one in the extended family smokes and to date, none of the young people or teens smoke (my niece’s new husband quit smoking before they got engaged). Smoking and drinking are generally quite social & associated with social situations.</p>
<p>I do believe folks learn what they see. When they see responsible, in control behavior, in general, they TEND to follow that example. Of course, there will always be exceptions.</p>
<p>I’ve never understood asthmatics who take up smoking, but again, that’s probably a social thing & of course it’s a very tough habit to break. My kids are asthmatic & extremely sensitive to any form of smoke or strong scents.</p>
<p>I don’t drink outside of one or two ounces a year. I don’t metabolize it well and I find that small amounts are uncomfortable. Our son has always refused to try any asking why one would put poison into their body. My wife drinks a little wine from time to time. Daughter has never shown any interest though we have offered it to her to try. He’s seen what happens to kids at college that show up drunk or hungover in class and reasons logically that it’s something that he doesn’t want to choose to do.</p>
<p>My D thinks most of it “smells nasty,” & we agree. <grin> We’ve offered her tastes from time to time & we all think the “virgin” versions are just fine for us.</grin></p>
<p>What is awesome about that is that you are having that conversation. You are teaching by example, but also showing that it isn’t all that it is cracked up to be.</p>
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<p>I would say that kids are usually the most vocal opponents of their parents’ smoking.</p>
<p>There was one set of friends (no longer in the picture) that made me think to re-locate the alcohol.
We were very naive; we don’t drink much, but thought it was weird that the tequila level was lower than we remembered.</p>
<p>The thing we should have locked up? The ritalin. For the first time ever, S ran out before it was time for a new prescription…</p>
<p>My mom smoked when I was a kid. My sisters and I would hide her cigarettes and ashtrays. It was gross then and this habit led her to a hasty, very premature death.</p>
<p>In some families, they all smoke together & youngsters start smoking really, really young and are hooked before they begin HS. Sometimes this even happens when the kids see their older relatives dying nasty deaths, coughing away & on O2.</p>
<p>Yes, kids can be some of the best reasons to quit. We had several friends who finally were able to quit because their kids steadfastly said that was the best & only gift they wanted from the parents. Quitting is really tough tho–it’s said to be tougher than heroin.</p>
<p>We have some narcotic pain relievers that have been around this house forever. Hubby took it for pain relief when he had shingles. They dispensed it when I left the hospital after each deliver & any surgical procedure. I HATE the way I feel so “out of it,” exhausted by edgy & unable to sleep, so I don’t take them (prefer taking 2 ibuprofen & toughing it out instead).</p>
<p>So far, in this household I have the opposite problem–folks who don’t take the meds they should (non-compliance). Must be tough having to watch your meds like a hawk to be sure no one is taking more or different meds than they should.</p>
<p>Some of your kids may be lying to you. When I was 16, I told my mom that her brother let me have a sip of beer once (which was true), and that I thought it was the most disgusting thing I’d ever tasted. I said this precisely so she wouldn’t hide any of the family’s alcohol from me.</p>
<p>Yes, kids can lie, as can adults. In the end, we have to trust that we did our best to raise our kids to make good choices that they can live with. Education about personal responsibility and consequences seems a more lasting solution to me than locking up and prohibitting things.</p>