Years ago when I had to go out of town for a one-day meeting, I left my oldest teen in charge of the household. He was nineteen and college-bound, and my guys never broke the rules. They were trustworthy. I’d be back in 24 hours.
What could possibly happen in 24 hours? But when I arrived home, I knew immediately that there had been party. Our home was spotless. Seriously, spotless. And if you have teens, you know that never happens.
There were no dishes by the dishwasher that needed to be loaded. They were actually in dishwasher. There were no shoes or clothes thrown around. They were already in the hamper.
There were no potato chip bags or soda cans on the end tables. Everything was in the trash. Nothing, but a slightly sticky wood floor. They were busted.
I think it’s universal. When the parents are gone, it’s party time. But in today’s world, the consequences of a party can last a lifetime. Unsupervised teen parties can lead to a lot trouble, not only for the teens, but also for parents.
We are liable for anything that happens. And you probably already know that almost all of unsupervised parties include alcohol and illicit drugs. What usually happens is that inviting a few friends over escalates to a huge party when the word gets out. Others usually bring in the alcohol and drugs.
We all know that drinking and doing drugs can lead to death. Alcohol toxicity and getting behind the wheel after drinking can cause fatal accidents. And today, the average age for a girl to have her first alcoholic drink is 13.
How do we protect our teens from drinking alcohol?
1. If your daughter or granddaughter is invited to a party, make a call to the parent of the teen hosting the party. Make sure they will be home. Ask if they allow alcohol or not. You’d be surprised to find out that they may allow it.
2. Take time to know your teen’s friends. What are their interests and goals? Do they have a reputation of partying? If your teen's friends drink, your teen is more likely to drink, too. Use wisdom and discernment as you give your daughter permission to attend a party.
3. Have a "no ask, no questions" party pick-up policy. Give your teen the opportunity to call you at anytime if she feels unsafe.
4. Talk with her about the dangers of leaving a drink unsupervised. Anyone can spike her drink without her knowing it.
5. Teens who drink tend to become sexually active earlier and are more likely to have unprotected sex than do teens who don't drink according to some online statistics.
6. Talk to your daughter and granddaughter about alcoholism. Teens who drink are more susceptible to develop alcohol dependence than are people who wait until they're adults to drink.
Even if you think she doesn’t listen to you. She does. And she’ll remember your words.
You can make a difference in your teen daughter or granddaughter’s life. Start today.
