Unsupervised Teen Parties
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Daughter had a party and didn't tell us
Aug 2013
My husband and I have always given our children the benefit of the doubt. We give them our trust in exchange for honesty. Last week we were both out of town for a couple of days and decided to let our 17 year old daughter stay at home. She assured us of what she would be doing and we believed it. I just found out that she had a small party at our home. ( I usually don't check her cell phone but did a couple of days ago). I was shocked at what I read and saw. Long story short, there were photos of them drinking, etc. and texts from her gleefully talking about other events where alcohol was involved.
I feel so betrayed and sad that she lied to us about this and so many other things. Now I don't know if I can trust her again. I know what teenagers can get into; I am not naive about all the stuff that goes on. I feel the need to get this off my chest, but I also don't want her to know I was checking her phone messages. My husband and I will not let her stay alone again and we are going to restrict sleepovers (that's when things get blurred).
Should we talk to her about the party she had or move forward with a watchful eye? She's a great girl other then this blip. Sad momma
I heard something recently that struck me...kids and teenagers need to understand that nothing is private when it comes to texts, emails, social media, etc.. This is a great teaching moment for parents to share with their children. It also can help remove some of the irritation that kids feel when parents read their kid's texts, etc.. I think you need to address her lying. She needs to know that you are a lot wiser than she thinks. Teens tend to think they are pulling one over on their parents -- I used to do everything by the book and then do what I wanted behind my mom's back...that was a lot easier than being confrontational, because my mom could definitely bring it in that area. Even great kids (I was one too) get into trouble and they need to know that you care enough about her and your relationship to address the issues. She will respect you for it in the long run. Good luck anon
I think it's perfectly okay to let your daughter know that you looked at her phone. She is a minor, she lives with you, and you are responsible for her legally. You don't need to apologize for this.
Sit down with her and tell her what you found out. Keep the conversation focused where you want it to be--don't let her try to derail you if she complains you looked at her phone.
It's not just about lying. It's about them drinking in your home as well. This is very serious. Someone could have gotten very ill, become alcohol poisoned, driven home drunk, etc. You as the parents would have been liable. She would have been morally culpable. This behavior is unacceptable.
So, where to go from there? I suggest consequences that fit the behavior as much as possible. No more getting to stay at home alone while the parents are out of town ever again. Perhaps limited social time for a while, loss of phone, etc. And maybe an assignment to volunteer that is relevant to issues of alcohol.
To counter balance this, I think you should be clear that this behavior was unacceptable and does impact how you're feeling about her now, but that she can get in your good graces again over time, and this does not make her a bad person. It was a mistake, and she can take certain steps to make amends. time to set a real clear consequence
I would talk to your daughter about it and also about your feelings about alcohol and drug use. My 17 year old son is very honest about what he's up to in that regard and he does drink with his friends. My bottom line is do not get into a car with anyone who has been drinking and be moderate as much as you possibly can because people make bad decisions when they are drunk. I've talked to him about sexual decisions people make when they are drunk and I have said that I will come get him any time he needs rather than him being in a dangerous situation. I wish he did not drink at all but even though it is illegal I think that is unrealistic. We did leave him home alone for one night and had a neighbor available to check on the house. He promised he would not have a party and did have two friends over. I don't plan on doing that again because the temptation would be too great.
I guess I feel like keeping a good honest relationship means accepting some level of experimentation with drugs and alcohol. Otherwise he would just lie about it...I might be more protective of a girl because I would be afraid of sexual stuff happening when she was under the influence. I would try to make it an open conversation and try to reestablish a level of honesty and open communication with your daughter. Remember that soon your daughter will be away from home and have to use her judgement. I figure it is better for my son to be able to talk to us about what's really going on, even if it's not exactly what I wish he were doing, than lying and figuring it all out on his own. This way I have some input and he knows he can trust us to help him through his mistakes. Good luck! Another mom
You should definitely confront her about the party. In my opinion truth is the most important part of your relationship and you have to let her know that she's let you down. (I also have a 17-year-old daughter.) If you don't, you can be sure the behavior will repeat itself. I understand not wanting to let her know you looked at her phone, and others may disagree with me, but I think you can bring the issue up without mentioning the phone. For one thing, she will likely divert the issue to her outrage at having her privacy violated and you lose the upper hand which you deserve to have in this situation. There are many ways you could theoretically find out about a party at your house, and you don't need to divulge your sources. This has happened multiple times with me and my daughter. It might go like this: ''Did you have a party at the house when we were gone?'' If she answers yes, then you thank her for telling the truth, tell her you're disappointed, that she betrayed your trust, that there will be a consequence, but that you appreciate her telling the truth. (And maybe that the consequence is lighter than it would be if she'd lied.) If she says no, you can say that you heard otherwise, and--this is what I say ''It doesn't matter how I know.'' The truth is we live in a small community and people talk. And I think it's valuable for kids to have a sense that there are eyes on them - it might make them reconsider risky behavior. If you need to involve the phone, you can say that you had reason to believe there was a party and checked her phone. I think it's important for us parents not to lie, since we're asking them to tell the truth. That said, I don't think we need to be completely transparent. Good luck!
Of course, this is just my opinion...if your daughter would have ask you if she could have her friends over and have some drinks, you would have said no. I'm 50 and still remember my teen years.We had parties, we drank, we dance, some of us smoke pot ( it was not too popular at the time in my country). Sometimes the parents were there, sometime there were not...actually My Mom move to Miami for health reasons and my Dad would commute every 2 weeks, so I was on my own, our place was ''the place'' to be but I was pretty responsible. We did some crazy stuff but it never got out of control, I respected my home and my family. I think this law about not drinking until 21 is nuts and not real. Your daughter probably will go to College next year and she will meet out of control kids, they want to party, smoke, drink without any responsability. She is a good kid, keep an eye on her and try to have honest conversations. I would ''forget'' her small party... Anon
Our daughter, 16 at the time, did the same thing last summer. Of course you should talk to her, but you should not snoop on her fone. Twitter and FB stalking are absolutely fair.
We grounded her for three weeks and let her start spending some nights alone this spring. She graduated from high school, and everything is OK. Yes, she and her friends still party, and that will likely happen more in college. We are, of course, talking to her about that. anon
Sorry you're going through this. I got to a point (after a couple of unapproved parties) where I didn't believe anything my kids said any more. I work at home but we actually had my mom move in with us, partly to reduce chances of unauthorized parties (and even then things happened in the middle of the night).
I would come down on the side of talking it through as honestly as possible and expressing your concern for their good health-- even if you have to confess to checking the phone-- how else can you maintain your relationship? They are testing boundaries, and you want them to learn how to handle themselves SAFELY. ''Drinking a lot is not good for you. So if you drink, don't be STUPID. Don't drink more than one drink an hour, preferably with food. Take a friend to the party who will look after you and vice versa. Never get in a car with anyone who's been drinking. Always take a condom to parties, and remember that good judgment goes away with the first drink.'' Etc.
If serious breaches of trust happen, there are privileges you can revoke-- computer, cell phone, overnights etc.
We got to the point where we were grateful to get the kids through high school and no one died, no one got arrested, no one got pregnant. (And these are good kids from good family and all went to college.) Pretty low bar, but it helps me appreciate what they're doing right: school, homework, friends, some chores, summer job, college apps, etc. hope that helps some.
I would definitely tell your daughter you know she had a party and there was drinking. Trust is desirable between parents and kids; however, while you may have been ''wrong'' to check her phone, the fact is, she had a party and she lied about it. So don't worry about her accusing you that you checked her phone. I would imagine you had an idea that something happened, which is why you checked.
When my son and daughter were 17 and 21, we left them for a few days when we went out of state. We told them we were worried that kids would find out they were alone and they assured us there would be no parties. We also advised our neighbors that we were going out of town and we never heard anything about a party happening from them. Long story short, there was no party, no drinking, no property damage or theft of personal property and our kids kept their word. Some of our friends have not been so lucky.
17 is on the young side to be staying home alone unsupervised for more than an evening. It only takes your kid mentioning the fact to one of her friends that her parents will be gone and all heck can break loose. If it has to be done, make sure some adult swings by during the evening hours and let your kid know this will be happening. Tell your neighbors, too. In other words, make it hard for her to break the rule ''no parties while we're gone.'' No parties while Mom's gone
I am all for trusting your daughter and hoping for honesty in return, but to actually expect that of a teenager seems really unrealistic. I know it would be great if we could all treat our teens like they are mature and wise decision-makers, but we set them up for failure when we do this. It's biology! Their brains are not that developed and that is why teenagers have, generation after generation, gotten into things like drinking, partying, and other potentially unsafe behavior. I'm sure you are a good parent, but I am also sure you probably did not outwit this biological reality. OK, so what to do...
First, I think you should not have made an agreement for it not to be OK for you to review her phone/texts. (Clearly this was too much trust.) My advice would be to suck it up and admit you saw the texts and are disappointed and concerned with what they revealed. And, based on that, there are some new rules to go along with (like the no staying alone and no sleepovers.) You pay for her phone, right? you make the rules on that. It doesn't have to be obtrusive, but you can let her know that you will be spot-checking her phone periodically. (Look online if you really want to get serious about this--there are contracts you can make. But, this is not the main focus of your concern so you could table that while you deal with the partying issue.)
Your daughter is very probably the ''great girl'' you say she is, but please don't mistake that as meaning a girl who doesn't behave in normal unsafe teenage ways. That is you being naive. Your job is to keep her safe and knowing she is loved and if you make sure she hears this as you are talking it through, your great girl will eventually understand. Good Luck! Elizabeth
Your daughter will benefit in the long run by your providing boundaries and show her there are consequences for her actions; both the lying & the dangerous potential of the drinking party. Grounded, extra chores, loss of computer & cell phone use for a concrete period of time is how I handled a similar experience. Even if it's just for a few days. No argument, it's a tool for learning and you're not sending a message that she's a bad person, but that lying plus underage drinking are both unacceptable behaviors. You have no reason to divulge the process of your investigation. It's because you love her. The time grounded can be spent in thoughtful ways, cook dinner together, go shopping for new shoes. Don't end the duration early. Stay pleasant & hold your ground. I wish you all the best. Anonymous
Our son is also a good kid, so we were stunned to find out he had a party while we were out for a Saturday evening. We found out because they did not clean up quite as well as they should have. There were a few beer bottle caps and some roaches scattered about. We were shocked and stunned and couldn't believe it, so I can relate to you. Because we had evidence , we were able to open the conversation. Our son felt a bit ashamed and we focused on honesty and safety, less on punishment , some might call us too lenient. Our son did feel uncomfortable with the deception, and he agreed to honestly tell us when he would be going to a party where there would be no parents. So we have been able to keep communication open about drinking and drugs. He never wants us to pick him up, but he does tell us his plan for getting home from those situations. It's challenging because all they do is get older and older! Good luck
Tell her that you know about the party. You don't have to explain how you know, it could have been neighbors, or a parent of someone who was there, or someone who heard about it ... let her think that you have superpowers of knowing stuff, it will scare the hell out of her. The important thing though is that you tell her all the rest of what you put in your post, that you are sad and disappointed and that she has lost your trust. She should know that her actions have an impact, sometimes a hurtful one, on people who love her. It may not change her future behavior, she is a teenager after all, but it will give her something to think about.
Oh, and the thing about checking her phone kind of bothers me. You don't want her to know you did that, she doesn't want you to know about the party, trust and respect should go both ways. anon
I am surprised that you are so shocked that this happened. It happens EVERY WEEKEND! ask your daughter if parents are home when she goes to parties on weekends and if she is being honest she will say NO.
I have at least 10 friends with 'great' and 'reliable' kids who have had small parties to raging out of control parties when their parents were gone. Some included police coming, stolen and damaged property and the like.
I think you are lucky that nothing bad happened i.e. no one drove drunk and got into an accident.
My opinion is that you tell her that you know she had a party when you were gone (you don't have to tell her how you found out-it does not really matter how and it is not the point-be firm on that one) and that you won't be leaving her alone again. Tell her you are disappointed with the behavior.
Keep a closer eye in general now that you know she has been drinking etc. I hate to say it but this is definitely typical for teenage behavior. Ask ten of your friends if they ever had a party when their parents were out of town and I would say at least 5 did.........I am not saying it is right but for you to be shocked is a little over the top. mom of 18 and 20 yr olds
Wow. While there weren't too many, the responses that took the parent to task for checking her daughter's phone seem to miss the point. Presumably, the parents pay for the cell phone. Definitely, the daughter lives at home, supported by her parents. Finally, the daughter's deceptive behavior set up circumstances that could have resulted in ruined lives, even death, not to mention legal liability for the parents. To me, all that trumps the daughter's ''right'' to privacy. I have a teenager that age, too, and she does not have the full range of rights adults have, for very good reason. My frontal lobe works just fine; hers doesn't yet
Hi, Sorry to be late in responding. Your dilemma really hit home because I do not see a dilemma. Your daughter lied to you and totally disrespected you! Where is the outrage? You pay the phone bill, you bear the legal responsibility for anything that goes wrong--car accident, a ''guest''s adverse reaction to alcohol, a drunk child's accidental fall. Parents who hide behind ''right to privacy'' are lazy and afraid their children won't ''like'' them. It is hard to be the bad guy, but, wow, we didn't have kids because it was going to be easy. BTW, my daughter (18) was shocked that you weren't most concerned about your daughter breaking your trust. You no doubt give her a lot materially and emotionally, you deserve respect in return. Mom of 3 Teens
Step-son having parties when we go out of town
Oct 2008
My husband has a 16-year-old son who, when we are out of town, does his best to make use of our empty house. Unless we have a house sitter, and even that is problematic, what do you suggest we do about keeping him out of our empty house. He understands that this is off limits, but as soon as we leave, he is here -- inviting friends in, smoking pot, generally making use of our house despite explicit instructions to the contrary. What now? Frustrated stepparent
Helloooo! I hear you and only one response came to mind. Didn't you get the parenting 101 memo? You cannot leave the house overnight when your son has these inclinations...cross off overnight traveling for the next three years or more...there is no other way...it's just part of your job.... there will be life for me after son's teenage-hood
You could be in big trouble here if something happens in this house while you are away. Sounds like you have been fairly passive by telling him No, but not enforcing it. You are implying that the stepson doesn't live with you but ''visits'' the house while you are away. Based on this, take definitive steps. First, change the locks. Second, seriously consider a burglar alarm system (that would prevent him from breaking a window to get in). Third, don't necessarily tell him when you are going out of town. I don't understand why your house sitter is problematic--because the house sitter can't control your son? Perhaps the son has larger problems and needs treatment. At any rate, this is a problem that could turn into a horror, so try to stop it now! Anonymous
Let's start by stating the obvious: Having a key to your house is a privilege which he has abused. If he doesn't have a key to your house and breaks in, its a legal matter.
Once you have your keys back, you need to start telling your neighbors when you go out of town, and telling the police. THEN you tell your step son that you have done so. If you're afraid of hurting his feelings or him thinking you don't trust him (why would you?) I would tell him exactly what I told my own kids if one stayed behind (at a friend's house) while we were out of town... after I took their keys....
''This isn't about whether we trust you -- but we DON'T trust all of your friends. This way we remove the ability of your friends to exploit you and abuse our home. Feel free to tell them we're unfair, that the police are watching our house or anything else you need to to follow this rule.''
And, I'd probably get an alarm, or change the code on the one I have. The legal and liability issues are huge, in addition to the fact that your teenager is abusing your trust.
Been There. Changed the Locks.
I'm not sure why you say a housesitter is problematic. This solution seems best to me--clarify that you want someone who will be in the house every evening--maybe you will even have to pay. I haven't used folks from this site but a friend recommended it http://www.housecarers.com/
Or only go away when your son is also away. We struggle with this too--I don't mean to sound cold, but there is no other way to stop it, I don't think. It sounds like he doesn't live with you--can you take away his key or would he just find a way in?. They will grow up one day
Hire a housesitter. anon
Thank you for worrying about this. I appreciate it very much when other parents make sure their space can't be used when they're away. A housesitter or live-in grandparent is the answer. Email me and I will give you contact information for a very reliable man who housesits. peg
The answer seems to clear to me. Don't leave town. A 16 year old boy who smokes pot and does not follow your rules should not be left. He will be in college in two years. Save your trips for then. mom of two teens
I'm recommending that you be a hardass about this because I view it as a potentially extremely dangerous situation. By inviting friends over to party when you are out of town your stepson could get into something way over his head.
So, what I suggest is get an alarm system if you don't already have one. When you leave town, change the code to one he doesn't know and turn the system on. If he uses his key to get in and can't turn the system off, the cops will come. He'll have some 'splainin' to do. A basic system is not terribly expensive to install and you should probably have one anyway.
If you don't like the alarm idea, you can have an extra doublekey deadbolt lock added to your front door and back door(s) for which only you have the key. You don't use this lock except when you are out of town. If you only have a couple of doors, this will not be terribly expensive either. If he is the kind of kid who would break a window to get in, I would definitely do the alarm system. Good luck. stepmom whose stepkids never did this
1. Get an alarm system that connects to a service that will send out security (such as Bay Alarm). 2. Alert your nosiest neighbor that the kid isn't to be there when you aren't home. Encourage them to call the police if it happens. 3.Alert the police to weekends you will be away and the past problems. Ask them to make an extra drive by at night. 4. Parents are increasingly being held responsible legally for teens' actions when the parents aren't there. I am sure many of us on the list could relate incidents that would make your hair stand on end as to what our and our friends' kids get up to when left by themselves for too long. former BHS teacher
Install an alarm system in your house. When you go out of town, change the alarm code temporarily and set the alarm. Also notify the alarm company that your son is not allowed in the house during this time. Then, even if your son has the key to your house, he still won't be able to use it -- not too much fun with the alarm going off and the police coming by. You can also enlist your neighbors to help -- I'm sure they don't want pot parties in your empty house. Ask them to call the police if they see activity while you're gone. good luck
Others will probably suggest this - just change the locks and don't let your son have a key. It might be inconvenient for you, but it will eliminate the lure of easy access. If he goes so far as to break in, maybe you don't want to leave town much until he grows up a bit. Most kids mature eventually!! In the same boat
After our teen's first ''betrayal of our trust'' like this, we made her stay at another person's home and told our neighbors to treat the house as if no one lived there. We told them to call the police immediately if they saw ANYONE in the house (even one of our kids), except the particular person who was given charge of watching over the house. We had my brother check regularly, particularly at night. In your case, the other parent (husband's ex?) should be on alert about this and you should stress she is responsible for her son's behavior, including unauthorized entry into the house. In some cities, police will (when asked) make periodic sweeps by the home.
IMPORTANT: THIS IS A MATTER OF POTENTIAL LEGAL LIABILITY. I don't like police involvement any more than any of you here and I was reluctant to take this approach at first. However, we all need to remember that anything that happens in our home AND any damage or injury caused because of actions by a minor of whom you are responsible is YOUR legal liability ... you could be in BIG legal trouble. It's not just a minor concern; you should treat it as the serious issue it is.
This is a very common problem and too often the seriousness is underestimated, dismissed with a shrug. But even some of the most reliable teens can be coerced into taking advantage of this situation. Basically, you have to muster all the forces and show you are serious. nakeemca
I will be looking forward to hearing what other parents say, as I have a child who is still young but could get into the party mode at one of his parents' houses easily. I did want to offer another comment -- in your letter, you really distance yourself from this young man. ''my husband's son'' ''our house'' -- is your house not also sometimes this young man's home? Are you not his stepmother? It may be that his behavior has just made you so upset that you don't want to claim relationship to him, but it struck me that the distance that I was sensing in your letter might actually contribute to the problem. If he feels that you think of him in any case as a visitor at best or intruder at worst, perhaps he doesn't feel much responsibility toward you or your feelings. I'm just wondering. potentially a future stepmother
That 16 year old sounds a lot like I was at that age. You'll probably have other folks say this too - change your locks! It is a huge liability to have minors in your house conducting illegal activities. You can and will be held responsible, even if you are not home. I'm sure I wouldn't want to do that to my child, take away his right to enter, but I really don't see another choice. Not to mention, he has broken your wishes on the subject and that is the natural consequence. Good luck! an old party girl
PTA Article about Teen Parties
June 2006
A few months ago, someone posted asking for information about the Berkeley Police Dept's workshop on out-of-control teen parties. I don't think anyone responded to that, but I just came across an article published in Jan 2006 by the Berkeley High School PTSA that gives an excellent account of the magnitude of the problem, and what parents can do: ''Parents Need to Know the Risks of Weekend Teenage Parties''
Unsupervised teen parties
March 2006
In last week's newsletter there was an item from the Berkeley Police about a March 23 community forum on ''Teen Parties''. I have been meaning to write to the newsletter letting people know about my own experience. Our kids had an unauthorized party at our house in February just one week before the tragic teen party in North Berkeley where a teenager was stabbed to death (see http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?archiveDate=02-17-06=23437 ). It was very scary because it could have been our house. So I wanted to let other parents know what happened at our house.
We went out of town for the weekend and left our two kids, 20 and 23, in charge. We knew from their Berkeley High days that parents out of town often means party at your house, where everyone is invited, invitations are word of mouth and the door is open to anyone and everyone. But this time we thought they were older, they are good kids and they could be trusted. They promised no parties. What happened is they did have a party. Kids showed up that they didn't know, and things got out of control. There was a fight outside in the front yard. They really didn't know how to deal with it. They told us later that it never occurred to them to call the police. Someone could have been hurt, thank God no one was. Things were stolen - our cell phones and cameras and ipods. They paid us back out of their meager funds, but I learned my lesson: next time I don't leave them in the house by themselves no matter what. Please be extra conservative about leaving your kids at home alone. If you must leave them, ask a neighbor to check in, and talk to your kids about what ''out of control'' means, and what to do when that happens.
Still learning
March 2006
Community Forum on Teen Parties
The Berkeley Police Department, in conjunction with the District 5 Berkeley City Council Office, is sponsoring a community forum on Thursday, March 23 on the growing concerns around teen parties:
- The social factors that lead to out-of-control teen events
- What teens can do if their party gets out of control
- Teen anxiety about calling the police. What will really happen?
- What are parents\x92 responsibilities if they are not there?
- What can and should neighbors do if they suspect a large, unsupervised teen party?
- How web sites, such as \x93My Space,\x94 play a roll in spreading the word.
The BPD will also be available to address concerns about the February homicide on Contra Costa Ave.
The meeting will be Thursday, March 23, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the Northbrae Church Community Center, 941 The Alameda, Berkeley. Available for questions will be representatives from the Berkeley Police Department\x92s Community Services Bureau and Homicide Division, and the City\x92s Mental Health Division.
For information, call the BPD Area Coordinator, Officer Nutterfield, at 981-5806, or the District 5 Council Office at 981-7150.
Jill Martinucci, aide to Berkeley Councilmember, District 5
Spontaneous Huge Parties - Parents Away
March 2005
I'm very concerned about teen parties that appear to take place every weekend at Berkeley, Oakland and Piedmont homes where parents are away. They seem to explode rapidly into something very large and sometimes out of control, are attended by many many kids unknown to the ''hosts'', and are accompanied by lots of alcohol, marijuana and, I suspect, yet more serious things. Is this a growing problem generally, or is it a problem that I'm only now tumbling to given my child's current high level of interest in participation? In addition to monitoring our own children's behavior and talking informally with other parents, is there any coordinated community effort to address this phenomenon? I welcome information, thoughts, advice, etc. etc. Thanks, Bea
I graduated from Berkeley High in 1982. This party desciption sounds exactly like the parties I started going to (unbeknownst to my parents) in 1977. They were wild and fun and super exciting, and my friends and I did a lot of really stupid things. I think most of us recovered. The best result: I got all the partying out of my system by the time I was a senior at BHS. I had no desire to ''party'' at UC and did much better than some of my dorm mates who had had a more sheltered high school experience. --Good luck
Options for Dealing with Parties and Drugs
Editor Note: These very helpful tips are notes from a workshop given to parents about parties and drinking by local therapist Michael Y. Simon, MFT, Director of Counseling, Bentley Upper School
March 2005
I'm posting below some information from a workshop I give on parties/drugs in high school. I hope this helps.
Options for Dealing with Parties/Drugs and Their Likely or Hoped-For Consequences
Strategy 1: Doing Nothing or \x93Don\x92t Ask, Don\x92t Tell
Parents decide that there is nothing they can do and they can\x92t control their child, who is on the way to adulthood. The likely consequence though is that your child will feel ignored and abandoned in someway and will feel that the unspoken bond of trust has been betrayed, since children usually expect their parents to watch out for them and their safety, even if they rail against it.
What Longterm Lessons are Being Taught?
1. When you have to confront someone you care about, the best strategy is to just ignore things and hope for the best. They probably can\x92t do the right thing, even if they know what it is.
2. It\x92s pointless trusting or consulting my parents because they won\x92t get involved or will feel burdened anyway.
Strategy 2: Doing Everything or \x93No @#$@ Way\x94
Parents decide that there is no way that they can trust their child to do the right thing. They forbid party- going and constantly check their child for drug and alcohol use. The child must answer to every inquiry and the parents verify every answer.
What Longterm Lessons are Being Taught?
1. I can\x92t be trusted to do anything on my own; I\x92m untrustworthy and can\x92t mess up in order to learn.
2. I am not capable of taking responsibility in a difficult situation. People think I shouldn\x92t have choices, just limitations.
3. I\x92m still a child and need to be micro-managed or I\x92ll be out of control.
4. I need to act like a kid, to prove my parents right OR I need to be \x93hyper-adult\x94 to prove I\x92m not a child (and thus, may in fact get in over my head as I attempt to take on too much adult responsibility).
Strategy 3: \x93Its All In Good Fun\x94 or \x93I\x92m my teen\x92s best friend!\x94 strategy
Parents might smoke or drink or use drugs in the house or might bond with their child by telling them about their \x93good old days\x94 in the 60s and 70s when they too got busted by the cops or pulled over for drunk driving or snuck out of the house and fooled their parents or had a party when grandma and grandpa went away. The idea is that this bonding will encourage the child to share information about sex, drug use and parties and will keep it all from becoming a big deal. Plus, if it goes on in the house, they can keep an eye on it all, right?
What Longterm Lessons are Being Taught?
1. My parents may be more concerned with what I want than what I need.
2. I can be trusted no matter what I do and my parents are really my friends, so if I mess up, its not such a big deal (and, consequently, I can\x92t really go to them).
3. Something is wrong if someone close to me has more power than I do.
4. The line between freedom and responsibility is blurry and difficult to figure out, because there are never really clear limits or boundaries around potentially dangerous activities.
Strategy 4: The Subtle Intervention: \x93No Big Talks\x94
Parents decide that they will not do one \x93big\x94 intervention, but will try many, ongoing, \x93little\x94 interventions, and include a number of strategies like: asking what the child thinks about the party/certain aspects of drug use; catching their child being \x93responsible\x94 and subtly pointing it out or expressing their appreciation for a hard decision, well made; offer advice when it\x92s asked for but provide conditional offers of help from time to time, or providing \x93cover stories\x94 to save face e.g., saying, \x93well, I\x92m still not totally okay about this party thing, but if you find that things are getting out of control tomorrow, let\x92s arrange a phone signal and I\x92ll come pick you up someplace where no one can see me getting you.\x94
What Longterm Lessons are Being Taught?
1. My parents still care and are available in a pinch but they have some faith in me.
2. I\x92m trusted to come up with solutions on my own, because they often ask me what I think, rather than tell me what to do.
3. My intuition and \x93inner voice\x94 is valued and valuable as a source of decision-making.
4. Things are not out of my control\x97I have choices and can get over the fear I have that I won\x92t be able to do the right thing (apropos of the essay you heard earlier).
Tips for Changing the Setting and Set Around Drug Use and Parties
- No parties without communication with parental hosts (if possible)
- Parent hosts send out notice/announcement via parent listserv or email list (compiled outside of school) notifying of time, date, knowledge of party, what they know about drugs/alcohol and their feelings about it, whether they\x92ll be there, etc.
- Parents adopt \x93risk management\x94 and \x93risk reduction\x94 strategies around drug/alcohol use at parties
- Read about drug and alcohol use (especially Over the Influence and Uppers, Downers and All-Arounders) and be prepared to help your child help him/herself reduce the risk associated with drug and alcohol use\x85because the bottom line is that you cannot stop them from taking drugs or going to a party unless they voluntarily agree to it OR they are involuntarily confined and under 24-hour guard. Know the effects of the drug of choice (e.g., that even short-term alcohol use has now been shown to effect short- and long-term memory retrieval ability in adolescents)
- Set consistent limits and let those limits be set in conjunction with your kids\x97they get to have input, but not veto power or \x93final say;\x94 the older and more mature the student, the more the input; the more successful demonstration of responsibility, the more the leeway, e.g., you don\x92t freak out when an otherwise responsible teen is home 20 minutes late every once and a while
- Parents having a NQA or \x93Get out of jail free\x94 card where parents pick up their child and take them home, any time, No Questions Asked (that night, anyway; it is unreasonable to expect that parents won\x92t pursue the issue when all participants are sober and awake and things have calmed down)
- Parents being willing to be put on a \x93NQA\x94 list (no questions asked); they can be called on party night and will pick up any child who needs a ride and would otherwise be driving under the influence or would be in a car with someone under the influence
- Align with Teachers (But Don\x92t Expect them to Parent)
As Mike Riera points out, in grade school, when kids have problems, they go to their parents, teachers and then friends, in that order. Teens reverse the order and go first to friends, then teachers, and finally parents. So it makes good sense to align with teachers because the teachers often hear of struggles before you do. It\x92s not about interrogating the teachers, though; it\x92s about knowing the adults in your child\x92s life. - Adopt a \x93Silence=Death\x94 policy
This is a dramatic way of putting it, but the point is, that you send the message that, \x93in our home, we talk about drug, alcohol use and parties\x85no exceptions; its on the table for discussion because we love you and will help protect you and help you protect yourself.\x94 This doesn\x92t mean you interrogate your child or get into every aspect of their business; it does mean that you will ask questions respectfully and demonstrate your care, regardless of whether they want it or it makes them uncomfortable. - Arm yourself with important information about legal consequences: Have knowledge that arrests and or citations can be made for the following offenses and understand (and have your child understand the consequences of each of this legal interventions):
- Providing Alcohol to a Minor
- Sale of Alcohol Without a License (if money is charged for the party)
- Possession of Alcohol By A Minor
- Drunken Disorderly Conduct
- Driving Under the Influence
- Vandalization of property
- Irresponsible upkeep and improper garbage disposal to the point where it becomes a health hazard or eyesore (large parties with kegs/clean up) - Understand that Parties are Opportunities to Help Your Child Develop their Intuition/Conscience and Learn to Act on Their Own Behalf (Make the right decisions, that are truly their decisions)
- Understand that Freedom and Responsibility go together in complicated ways.
Teens need freedom to learn the right choices and to demonstrate their ability to respond well. And they need the chance to mess up in order to learn to respond well. Therefore, learning how to be responsible demands the chance to misuse or misunderstand the freedom that you grant to your teens. So, a logical but disconcerting consequence of this is that teenagers\x92 screw-ups are not necessarily reasons to curtail freedom, because this is the necessary condition for learning. \x93Screw-ups\x94 can be occasions for teaching planning, stress management techniques, \x93threat\x94 assessment, failure analysis, and a host of other important skills that can only be developed through hindsight and new chances to demonstrate newly incorporated information about what works and what doesn\x92t. And you might have to give up some more of your short-term freedom to teach them long-term responsibility.
Mike Riera tells us that teens maturity cycle includes movement back and forth between \x93not enough responsibility\x94 and \x93too much freedom\x94 in getting to the goal of consistent responsibility in difficult situations. Try to match \x93screw-ups\x94 with the appropriate amounts of freedom curtailing and new opportunities to learn and demonstrate responsibility. Give them things to do that they can be successful at, so that they can ramp up again to try out their hard-won knowledge\x85which leads to a final tip: - Remember that Teenagers Do Well on Things When They Are Feeling Good. And Feeling Good About Oneself Comes from Doing Well on Things. One consequence of this information is that when your child messes up, work with them on making the situation right and learning from it, but try to help them (subtly or not) find something they can succeed at. Not to point too fine a point on it: If they fail by messing up, help them succeed at fixing their mess\x85but don\x92t do it for them!
Michael Y. Simon, MFT
Director of Counseling, Bentley Upper School
15-Y-O Wants to Go to Unsupervised Teen Parties
Sept 2004
I am a parent of a very social 15 year old sophmore at BHS. My daughter wants to be able to attend parties where there are no adults present in the home. My rules have been that there must be a parent in the house during the party, and I need to have the name and phone number of the parent of the kid that is hosting the party. My daughter complains that I am way too strict and that lots of her junior and senior friends have parties without parents in the home all the time. I would like to hear from parents of other high school age kids, (especially girls) regarding your rules for party attendance.
We have a 13 year old girl and a 16 year old boy, and we feel the same way you do. Absolutely no unsupervised parties -- just too much potential for problems. By the way, I lived with my boyfriend and his twin boys for 6 years, when they were age 15-21. We let them have parties at 15, 16, 17, but we were around, mostly in our room but with occasional passes through the house to check. Awfully glad we were around, because these kids (nice kids, good students, scouts, band, etc) just come up with DUMB ideas... and the girls were certainly the instigators at least 1/2 the time. Dumb ideas like let's go wander thru the neighborhood, or let's dangle so-and-so over the balcony. It seems like fun to them, because they are KIDS. Parents have to be there or things can easily get very risky. Been There - Don't!
First of all, you should definitely read the previous postings (including student perspective). I am also the parent of a 15-y.o. (well, almost) girl, and I ALWAYS insist on getting the address, phone number, and host's name for any party being contemplated. I really do call the home, introduce myself, and check that parents will be home throughout the party. While I realize this is no guarantee that ''nothing will happen'', I do want to verify that the parents are aware of/approve of the party (as in, not out of town), and to make them aware that at least one guest's parent cares enought to check it out. My daughter insists that I'm the only one who does this, but I tell her that part of my job as her parent is to help assure her safety. I think she knows that at least a few other parents do this, too, although she wouldn't admit it. I also repeatedly stress that she can call me for a ride at any time, if she is in any way uncomfortable. I also make a point of discussing my concerns with her every time (to her dismay, but that's how I am). So far, she has been good about calling me if she is going to be later than originally planned. At this point, her ride home has always been with either one of her parents, or another adult we know - never kids.
Part of the problem with high school parties is the age range. I guess by the time kids are getting ready to go off to college, we do expect them to make their own decisions about such things (after all, you won't be there to give or withhold permission, or chaperone, when they're away). But I certainly do feel that it's totally reasonable for me to be checking things out at this stage. And even when she's older, there will almost certainly be younger teens at the same parties - so I'm not sure how I'll deal with that. Let your daughter know that at least some of us are still taking our parental responsibilities seriously. Anon.
I've got a girl sophmore at BHS, too, and while she's probably not as sociable as yours, my rules are exactly the same. Stick to them. At this age, ''EVERYONE'' gets to do EVERYTHING (how convenient!), but I seldom believe it. And parents who do go off and let the kids party unattended are just being irresponsible.
How about checking in with her friends' parents and getting their opinions, maybe make some agreements about how you'll manage your kids' socializing? It's always nice to have some peer support, and our girls need to know that their parents are wide awake and looking out for them, however much they protest it. Good luck. Melanie
Hi, I meant to write this last go-round re. the unsupervised parties. I have some feelings about it as I find that the sexually active young women and their male partners are needing a place to do the experimental sexual stuff that young people do. We've had the problem of these people sleeping over at our house as a pretext for their connection. I've heard from one of the parental parties that they've been sexually active but not regularly so I'm not worried. Well,,,it then becomes the responsibility of the host family to ride herd/supervise, whatever, those young people. I know it's a very tough issue to think clearly about/ sort out. My friends who were parents of HS young years ago met the other subject parents and made an agreement to provide a safe space for these kids to sleep together. I liked that so much as it honors the experiemental nature of the young people and their natural desire, honors the parents who are NOT party to this so really don't have any reason to host sexually active young people and makes sex something speakable in their families. If you think you might be one of the parents of a sexually active young person please consider my request. Thank you. Anonymous
What goes on at teen parties
1999
As the recent, somewhat naive, hosts of an evening party for a group of middle schoolers, thought I should pass on a few tips I could have used beforehand. First, it is really important to be clear with your teen about the invitation process, i.e. keeping it very specific and discrete and creating a list for you to use in admitting people. Even then, think about how you plan to handle uninvited guests. Second, at the risk of underscoring my naivete, I'll pass on what may be obvious to everyone: hide and lock up all alcohol and all contents of medicine cabinets, unless it's o.k. w/you for people to consume these substances. Third, put away EVERYTHING you want to protect into a locked off area of your home (childproofing techniques, e.g. putting something high up or closing a door is mere child's play for a teen already well into his/her growth spurt and in a feisty, party mood). Fourth, don't expect to be able to control the movement and whereabouts of your guests. They have a tendancy to roam to do who knows what, & there is no way you can control what goes on beyond the confines of your home. Finally: hosting a teen party is not for the weak of heart and even the strong of heart need to have anywhere from 2 to many adults to help them (depending on the party's size). In the interest of space, I'll stop here, but am happy to correspond by e-mail w/any parent who would like to discuss party planning. The important P.S. is that despite the grim list above, my daughter had a great time and a great party and our home was unscathed. PPS: Corollary to #4 above is that I don't think we can hold hosting parents responsible for the behavior or even the whereabouts of our offspring during the course of a party. It is physically impossible for them, and we can only hope that each of our children has adequate judgment to keep out of harm's way.
Joan
Hooray for you - This sounds very much like the party my daughter was invited to last Saturday night by a friend of a friend of a friend. She decided not to go because she doesn't trust the party scene, even at fourteen. As it turned out, someone did spike the punch with rum and there was a lot of hanky-panky between boys and girls, even though the parents were on premises. I have been to one of those parties myself and the moment the parents leave the room, the kids do what they will do. I'm shocked that these kids are all so willing to be bad. I personally will be keeping any parties either single gender or VERY parentized. My daughter kind of represents that most of her friends are from broken homes and not well supervised between the two homes. I was going to tell her she couldn't go just because I wasn't about to have her at someone's house I didn't know, driven there by another friend I didn't know well - I don't think so - but she made the decision herself and I told her I was really proud of her. I think parents communicating with each other is the best defense.
I am so glad Joan wrote in about her experience with teen parties. They are a big mystery to me! Perhaps others will shed more light. Here is what my 17-y-o BHS son tells me:
1. there is no such thing as an invitation. anyone can go to any party. if you heard about it, then you are invited. you just show up.
2. you will not find out where the party is, or who is giving it, until the day of the party. this is to prevent too many people from showing up.
3. we can never have a party at our house, since too many people will come and also they will steal things.
4. parents are never present at parties.
5. alcohol is always consumed at parties (but there are designated drivers (?!!).
Is this pretty much the situation? Does anyone know? Here is a recent quote: I'm going to a party. I'll be home by 11. It's somewhere on ______ Street ( a nearby address). I don't know whose party it is - some kid from Head Royce. Everybody is going. Would you say OK to this?
Would I say OK to this?
NO!!!!!
Party is okay; home by 11:00 is okay; somewhere on ____ Street is NOT okay--I want to know where my kids are and what the phone number is; I don't know whose party is definitely NOT okay. Everybody is going--that and a quarter will buy you an Examiner.
Regarding discussion of teen parties The short answer is no I wouldn't go for it. Our kid is only 13 so we've only been faced with this situation once so far. He asked to go to a party with Johnny a school friend we know pretty well. The party was to be at the house of a friend of Johnny's. We said it was possible -- who was the friend, what was the address, and phone number? And by the way we needed the phone number in advance to touch base with Johnny's parent, guardian whomever. After being told repeatedly at major decibel levels that we didn't understand, that to call someone's parents just wasn't done, etc., he dropped the whole thing. I don't know what our rules will be when he is 17, but for the next few years the rules are: we need to know where he is going and what adult supervision there is planned for the event. With that information we will decide whether he can go; without it the answer is an automatic no. I believe that there are a lot of other parents who support this type of responsible parenting; perhaps we can make that known somehow so the kids will know (before they have kids of their own) that this is a general norm not an aberration.
My 11th grade BHS son gives the exact same definition of parties. I don't let him attend. He says he's the only kid at BHS not allowed to attend such parties, and that his reputation at BHS and the local preppy high schools is a pair of four-letter words as a result. He's my third high schooler and my rule has always been parties are ok if adults are present the whole time, I am given a phone number where I can reach the parents and my kid at any time, and I can come in and physically meet the parents at the beginning of the party and any other time during the party's duration, and my kid must be home by midnight. I found this resulted in my kids choosing to attend parties which, while not drug and alcohol free as apparently no high school parties are, were less wild than some parties I heard about. I encourage other parents to have the courage to staff parties occurring in their own house, and not to let their kids attend unchaperoned parties. And the final party piece: although I always insisted my kids write down the name, address, parental names and phone number of the kid who was going to drive them home from the party, I also made clear I would always do a midnight pickup, uncomplainingly, if the designated driver was not sober; I made many of these pickups, and I drove home many girls whose parents didn't care if they walked alone across Berkeley at midnight. I think if we give our kids the message that we have rules not to control them but because we care about them, it only strengthens our relationship with them in the end.
Re: Teen Partying at homes unknown to you: I never let any of my 3 kids go to parties in homes where I didn't know the child or the family before my own were 16. After that, I decided case by case. By then I had a solid idea of what kinds of people and places and fun my kids were attracted to and could I decide based on whom they were going with. But they ALWAYS had a firm curfew (they are now all in college) and they honored it. They were allowed to negotiate for a later curfew for some events but that was rare...it had to be pretty special and I had to know all the details.
My biggest fear was always driving, whether it was my child or another. This past weekend one of my children confessed to me that when I used to give my speech to them as they were heading off in a car, that she knew she was supposed to act embarrassed in front of her friends but that she was grateful for the advice. The usual speech was: wear seat belts, don't distract the driver and DON'T have a party in car! All three of our kids, I'm grateful to say, survived both their dad and me AND the drives!
Nov 19, 1999
I've been reading all your comments on parties, and being a student, I thought I'd submit my two cents. I am a senior at Berkeley High, and feel like I've experienced most of what there is to experience in the party scene. To begin with, I applaud your diligence in caring about what's going on with your kids. Way too many of my friends' parents seemingly couldn't care less where their kids are on the weekends. First of all, let me lend credence to the idea that most parties have alcohol as a major part of the activities: It is not an exaggeration to say that ninety-five percent (or more) of the parties I've attended since ninth grade have included alcohol-related activities.
While the average teen may seem outgoing, my observation is that this average personae is (if you will allow a generalization) more of a mask, a facade, than anything else. Especially in the younger grades, (and I'm talking from recent experience as well as from observation,) no matter how secure teens seem in themselves, there does exist some twinge of self-doubt, and in order to validate a healthy self-image, teens must search externally and find validation in the world. We do not, at that point in our development, trust our own impulses, our own value-systems and beliefs, enough to securely combat social pressures and norms. That, combined with the fact that Berkeley High is a huge, relatively impersonal institution, leads to parties that have no real core of similar-interest; as someone already mentioned, parties are generally open-invitation--in other words, anyone who hears about them is welcome to show up. So here you've got this group of kids who don't really know eachother very well, who are insecure about who they are, what they think and believe, and everyone wants to be cool and say the right things and act the right way. That's a lot of pressure. So it's easy to turn to drugs and alcohol. They act as social catalysts, making pleasant interaction possible where it previously would have been prohibitively uncomfortable. This has been my observation.
Just to give you a picture of the amount of people who imbibe, if you will: I'd say that out of all my many different friends at BHS, from many different social groups, different races, both sexes, etc., I would be hard-pressed to find ten people who don't drink. And I really do mean hard-pressed. Virtually everyone at Berkeley High drinks--it's a known fact (among the student body), and one that I gather is not expressed to parents all that frequently. There are the notable exceptions, but those are far and few between.
Parties generally evolve from a relatively small group of somewhat sober kids, to a mob of many drunk and high people, held together namely by the token bond of false social comfort. There's no easy solution. If your child is an upperclassman, chances are they do drink. The cool kids on the steps drink. So do the jocks, and the chess players. So do the nerds staying in at lunch to do math. (Please excuse all the gross categorizations and generalizations, but I'm trying to paint a picture.) There's virtually no group immune.
I'm not going to try to tell you what to do, how to parent, because you are surely better equipped than I am to hypothesize on parental methods. I just want to give you the picture, to validate the rumors, to say that yes, there is a major problem that could benefit from intervention. Being a senior, (yes, I know, still a baby to all of you,) I oftentimes look back at my high school career, and for the first time I can see things with a clear perspective. I certainly don't drink now, nor do I feel the need to. But back then, there was this incredibly strong urge to do so, I felt compelled not quite by peer pressure, but by the need to find some common means of communication, and these catalysts make that communication possible.
As for parents being present during parties: I've been to some parties where parents are present, but generally the parents just don't care about drinking/drugs. (If they did, their kids most-likely wouldn't have had the party in the first place, for risk of being thought of as uncool, etc.) I've been to plenty of parties where parents just go upstairs or downstairs, and just ignore what's going on. And then I've been to parties where the parents actually participate, come outside and talk to all of the drunk kids, take pictures, etc. I've been to parties where the parents actually provide the illicit substances; just a month or so ago I went to a party where the parents were home, and the host (kid) went down into the basement where her parents grow all their pot, and just used all of that for the party. This is Berkeley, folks. You've got to expect a lot of parents, post-hippies or the like, to smoke pot. And how in the world can you expect a kid to stay away from something that's not only considered cool and trendy, and feels good, but also is validated by the action of his/her parents? So as for checking whether parents will be home or not--I'm not sure that's such an effective method for making sure your kid's going to be alright. I'm sure you already know this, but parents can be just as irresponsible as kids sometimes, and oftentimes the irresponsibility of authority figures is much more damaging, much more influential, than that of peers.
This letter's already pretty long, but I'd like to cover a few more things, so I'll try to cover them briefly.
Driving: While I realize that the news I'm bringing isn't all that cheerful, I can say that drinking and driving following BHS parties (in my experience) has been much less than one might expect. While the actual parties themselves are hugely irresponsible and relatively dangerous endeavors, we teens seem to have caught on to the fact that drinking + driving = death. Generally speaking, designated drivers are appointed, and on the chance that the night ends with no sober drivers, people generally find other ways of getting home. (BHS students seem much more responsible in this regard than do many of the prep-school students around the East Bay; once again, this is only my experience talking, and I'm sure exclusions abound.)
Hard drugs: While they are sometimes present, they are much less of an issue, in my experience, than are alcohol and marijuana. I've seen some psychedelics around (psychedelic mushrooms, LSD, etc.), but have only heard of (and never seen) people using cocaine/crack/heroine/amphetamines/etc.
Sex: In a word, Yes. Sex does happen at parties, although the actual deed (spelled out: intercourse) is less frequent than random pairings who make out quite passionately (which is notably juxtaposed with the lack of any kind of emotional passion between the average given pair). Take alcohol and other drugs, and mix in raging hormones, and you're bound to get some sexual situations that occur in the moment, and are regretted later on.
Enough said. I wrote this all really quickly as a response to what I've heard from you all, I hope it's helpful in some manner or fashion. Life is so much better without drugs and alcohol. It's brighter and clearer and more alive. I just wish that so many people didn't have to find that out for themselves through harsh and harmful experiences. If you have the ability to help your kid out, to help them skip these foreseen pitfalls--I would recommend that with all my heart. While a few years ago I might have said, Let kids alone, what we're doing is not so bad, let us make our own decisions and form our own beliefs from OUR OWN EXPERIENCES, now I have taken on quite a different perspective. Although teens may project an image of mature self-sufficiency, I know from experience, and from observation of my peers, that this is somewhat of a fallacy. Don't be fooled. Keep up the good work in trying to protect your kids. If more parents took a stance, fought for the well-being of their kids, than perhaps this situation, coined the Party scene, (but actually is more accurately described as the predominant and pervasive social scene,) could be made into a much more beneficial scene, one that actually contributes to the healthy development of the person through this formative stage of our lives, not to the detriment thereof.
If you have any questions about anything I've written or anything else, please post your comments and I'll respond. Thanks for reading!
A Student at Berkeley High School
Parent Responses
WOW, WOW, WOW!! I just finished reading this. THANK YOU, whoever you are, for a well-written, well thought-out piece that really made me feel that you are ready for whatever life will bring you after high school. If you are college-bound, you will be prepared. I bet you'll be a success at whatever you do.
Just had to let you know that I appreciated your efforts to express the points of view of a young person so clearly. It also made me feel that the right things can happen in high school. I guess overall it gave me hope. Believe me, I needed and wanted very much to hear this! Thank you so much. Please write again.
It was great hearing from a BHS student! I'd like to hear more.
I would like to take the contrary view. No, I don't think everybody drinks at Berkeley High. If my daughter drinks, I have no idea when she would find the time to do it. And I would be surprised indeed to find that her friends drink.
I do think that there are some risky parties. I am aware of a student who spent time in Alta Bates after being beat up at a party. I suggest, as parents, that we befriend each other. If there is a party at your house, ask parents in when they drop off their kids. If your kids are going to a party, go visit yourself. If you insist on your right to survey the premises, you will ruin the fun for your child. Which is exactly what you want to do.
To BHS student/senior...thanks for your thoughtful and articulate letter. Your perspective is much appreciated as well as the time it took to write down your experiences and opinions. Candace
I'd like to commend the BHS senior who gave us the Scoop on parties. I found it very helpful to read and realize how important it is to talk to our teens and set limits. Thanks BHS senior!
To the BHS senior who responded to the parent concerns about Teen Parties--Brava! (Or Bravo! as the case may be.) Thanks for the straight story from a perceptive, thoughtful, expressive young adult. Every single thing you said rings true, and I can only hope that we hear more from people like you on all discussion topics.
As parents, we are constantly wondering whether we can strike the right balance between overprotecting our kids and encouraging their independence. We always hope we have laid the groundwork, instilled values and common sense so they can make their own good choices; but pressures, inexperience, and immaturity can often override what they know is safe and sane. (I feel as you do that young teens are more insecure than older teens; and that good judgement is more likely to prevail with older teens, by virtue of maturity, and not because of experience in making bad judgements.)
Thanks for letting us in on your thinking. I'd love to hear more from you and other young adults who can help us with our parenting.
Thank you to the BHS senior!
Thank you to the BHS senior who obviously put a lot of thought into her detail filled response to parents discussions about drinking, drugs, driving, and sex. I appreciate hearing your perspective and hope that my daughter grows to be as thoughtful as you appear to be. You also appear to be good writer--is that your natural talent??? or was it also recognized and foster by BHS English teachers.
I just wanted to sincerely thank the Teen who took the time to write such a candid and well-spoken letter about parties at BHS. Is there anywhere we can publish this, whether attributed or anonymous (either way with the teen's permission, of course)? This letter rings so true to me. My teen stepdaughter is attending a school in another state, and her aunt and uncle (with whom she is living), report that she is saying all of the same things reported in previous posts here (no one brings their friends home to meet their parental units; why do I have to tell you every little detail about where I am going? etc etc). Clearly, teenagerhood is more similar than dissimilar even in different cities (at least in this country).
Since this post was anonymous, I couldn't ask the teen's permission directly. I hope that you will be flattered rather than disturbed that have forwarded this post to my husband, the aunt and uncle, *and* my stepdaughter (keeping it all in the family, as it were). I hope that these wise words will have some positive effect on all our lives. I would like to see that effect spread to every teen and parent of teen in the country. Thank you again.
I want to thank the student who was so articulate and honest about Berkeley parties. Perhaps you can send you thoughts to the local newspapers so more parents can read it. I especially appreciate your perspective from a mature place now, and how you can see how much better life is when your sober. I would guess that you have parents who have made real efforts to stay connected to you during your High School years, and who respect and trust you. It's very important that we take our blinders off as parents and help our teens as best we can to navigate the confusing times they face. Over the years there have been times I have not wanted to see how things really are because I didn't know what to do. (I have two grown children and 2 at home). I suggest parents go to classes, support groups, or just talk with other parents about the real issues. We all need support and yet are often afraid to seek it out. (In that regard many thanks to the folks who make this newsletter happen.) To the student: please continue to offer your understanding to parents. Many people struggle to find ways to communicate with their teenagers and could benefit from your insights. My children teach me more than I could learn from any book or expert Thank you,
I also thank you for taking the time to write your thoughtful letter. I showed it to my junior to back up what I've been telling him about why I won't allow him to attend such parties. He was very frustrated at me after reading it, saying, Yes, everything is just as he says it is, but you missed the part about teens needing the EXPERIENCE. I want you to let me go to those parties so I can experience them, and I want you to trust that I'm not so stupid as to drink or use drugs even though they are there at the parties. I also really want to know how to email back to that kid. I have a few things to say to him.