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Originally Posted by kune
[INOT A TEAM PLAYER - NOT ENERGETIC - QUIET AND WITHDRAWN - UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE - CHIP ON HIS/HER SHOULDER - DOESN'T HAVE ANY SELF-AWARENESS - LIKES TO BE ALONE - UNDERACHIEVER
He then outlined how drugs were introduced.
Usually in a dark room while a group of rowdy youths were partying in the next room - kicking up a storm.
Usually by the non-academic achievers who were 'flat' (didn't have any excitement in their life)
Ann
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What Ann said! It is not something I stay up at night thinking about but it is something I have built my life around. Where we live, where the kids go to school who their friends are the number of activities they are involved in all play a roll in keeping them safe. It is not just drugs, risky sex and gangs are an issue.
My oldest was drug impacted at birth and comes from a family with a serious generational addition problem. Itmay have been environmental but on the off chance it is at all genetic we started talking about the risks of even experimenting for someone with a genetic predisposition to addiction. We started talking right around the time he started school and have kept the conversation going for the past 11 years. We are vigilant about where they are and who they are with. Luckily we have parents that are the same way all around us, from our neighbors to their school friends to our church. I can't tell you how nice it is to take your kid to a party and see parents at the door (think bouncer/security) and parents in the room where the party is happening AND parents patrolling the perimeter to make sure that no one wanders off orr ends up in a room alone. At my dd's highschool it is expected that parties will be chaperoned to this extent and parents have to sign a contract saying that they will be. Our neighbors and friends from church do this anyway. It is nice to hear "boy, I thought you were strict but you know what 'bill and sara's' parents do?" To have that kind of support from other families who make a point of setting clear limits and more importantly feel free to pick up the phone and call you with any concerns about your kids.
Lastly they are busy and involved. We have enouragedthem to go out and find something they are passionate about and commited to supporting it. All are athletes (some better than others) but I suspect that we may have a couple of musicians in the future. My dd is a avery serious swimmer (synchro). We have heard over and over about how girls whom participate in sports,stay off ofdrugs, away from crime, don'tget pg,have better body images, do better in school and I can really see it with the girls on the team. They are motivated, disciplined and have to learn to manage their time but I wonder if it is cause or effect. The commitment of all of those parents that make participation in sports possible couldbe the reason for the great out comes. I see kids who are serious muscians, chess player, in scouting or many other activities staying out of trouble as well. Ithink it is having parents and other adults (Coaches, Scout leaders, Choir Masters etc) active, involved and committed to thesekids that make a huge difference. I am one of those "it takes a village" people who recognize that dh and I can't do it alone.
lisa