So after I saw this story online it got me to thinking....really? Are we that desperate to "get high" that we will try anything once? I mean I know that there is some awful stuff in Meth, kids/people huff paint or glue, etc....but bath salts? States will be banning and outlawing bath salts. Who would have thought? Next we'll have to get rid of hair products and walk around with frizzy or flat hair (depending on your hair type). We'll all be "au naturel".
So my question for this blog is, how do we keep our children safe? This experiment has obviously had some disastrous results (i.e. the one person slicing his own throat then shooting himself). I know we can't protect them from everyone and everything, but how do we educate our children to make responsible choices? Everyone experiments with something (alcohol, sex, mild drugs, smoking cigarettes) but how do we tell them about the "lesser of two evils"?
Things seem to be getting worse and more worse. Huffing paint and bath salts probably wasn't even in the youths' heads "back in the day". Where did all of these "new things" come from?
It almost makes me not want to have children...well, a tad too late for that. I do have one, but probably won't have any more. Pretty soon we will be locking our children up or putting them in bubbles...instead of one bubble boy or bubble girl, we'll have bubble families? Hmm, now that's an idea.
Does putting your children in extra curricular activities and sports help the situation or make it worse by possibly exposing them to more "instances" for experimentation? Should we keep them so busy they have no time to think about drugs? Or getting in trouble? Or by doing that would we create a new issue, over stimulation and too much pressure?
Should we share our "mistakes" with our kids, full disclosure? Or will that give them the excuse "well, you did it?" Will it change their "I'm indestructible mentality" or strengthen it?
Growing up nowadays seems so much harder then when I grew up (in the 80s and 90s). I couldn't imagine how someone my grandparents' age would feel with our youth, things have to be 500x different then when they grew up.
The answer is simple my friend. Make people responsible for their own actions. I will be the first to admit, I have experimeted with a variety of evils in life however I will be the first person to admit to my flaws. When it comes to expiramenting, we need to tell them not hide them from it. Those billboards with the meth teeth are not going to be enough. Parents need to tell their children about their mistakes and not follow it with I wish you wouldnt.
ReplyDeleteI admit I have done some not so great things in life as well, but I don't think sharing those things with Jules (my daughter) would change how she felt or thought. I know when my mom told me about a few of her mistakes it didn't stop me from making the same ones.
ReplyDeleteSo maybe it isn't so simple, or maybe it is and I just can't see it yet. It almost has to be a multi-pronged approach.
One thing I do agree on, those billboards are definitely not worth their weight.
Open communication with our children is the key. That and knowing who their friends are. Giving them boundaries and sticking to them. They may be angry at us at the time, but will thank us later.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, there is no "right" answer. What works for one family or child, may not for another. I fear what I choose will ultimately be wrong, but all I can do is what I think is best. My husband, and I have agreed to an open door policy, and very open and honest relationship with our children (when they are older obviously). When they become experiential, and curious, we really hope to be the ones they choose to come to with questions. However, if they don't we will definitely be the ones approaching them also (in case they are afraid, etc...). all we can do is let them know we are always there for them no matter what, and will always love them.
ReplyDeleteThey don't need details of their dad's acid trips from high school, but sheltering them in our opinion isn't best either. I think what ultimately will work is being the best role models we can be, teach them to make the best decisions for themselves, and let them make their share of mistakes. They need space to grow, and learn. They will have our trust and respect as long as they earn it, and don't break it. It's a step by step learning process though, 5-8 years from now ask me again... HAHA.
Anon ~ I think that's true, there definitely has to be open communication.
ReplyDeleteNikki ~ You're right, not everything will work for everyone. I'm glad you are on the same page with your hubby on the open & honest relationship. That is how John & I are as well. I like how you worded everything :) I agree 100%