When I was going to high school we didn’t seem to have the problems that you find in today’s schools. More and more of our young children are experimenting with drugs, alcohol, smoking and sex. They think it’s cool, it will win them more friends, they want to be popular, it’s fun etc. I have four girls and I constantly stress the importance of not getting involved in any of these things because I don’t want to see them destroy their health and/or ruin their future, my girls know I set rules down and there are limits but they also know that I love them and will do all I can to care for them.
What really gets me is that there are actually parents out there who will allow their children to do drink, smoke, have sex etc. For whatever the reason it can’t be right!
We’ve all heard the stories, teen dies in car wreck, teen overdosed on drugs, teen committed suicide, teen pregnancies have risen, more and more teens are dropping out of school, teens killing other teens and so on. But have we ever really stopped and talked with our children about why we don’t want them to start dating at such a young age? Why sex is something that shouldn’t be done until she’s married? Why we don’t want her driving around town with her friend? Why drinking/drugs/smoking is something they shouldn’t do? Telling them not to do it and leave it at that isn’t enough. As a parent we need to stress how important it is they don’t do these things, give them reasons, share some stories with them and be consistent. They may act like they aren’t listening but if it’s told over and over believe me sooner or later they will here and they will remember.
All these things affect our child’s health in one way or another.
First time users of cocaine may experience seizures or heart attacks, which can be fatal.
Excessive drinking can be hazardous to everyone's health!
Nearly 80% of the fathers of babies born to teen mothers do not marry their babies' mothers. On average, these absent fathers pay less than $800 annually for child support.
Car crashes caused by teen drivers are the #1 killer of teens in America today.
Teen life, with its fads, crushes, clashes, and breakups, seems to be a world away from abusive relationships. Yet, there’s a dark side to all of the social drama. Many teens go through the same types of abuse—sexual, physical, and emotional—that we know some adults go through.
I know it sounds like a lot but we can’t ignore it because it won’t go away. We love our children and we want what’s best for them. So my advice to other women would be to get involved with your children with sports, school, facts about life etc. and help them mature into healthy adults with a future.