Parenting is not easy, but when they get to the age that alcohol becomes interesting, it becomes even more difficult. Adolescents and alcohol is not a good combination, but how do you keep them away from this as long as possible? Ban? Warn? Allow at home under the watchful eye of parents? Yvonne struggles with this and tells what happened.
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I hear vomiting sounds coming from the toilet. Who's sick? I crawl out of bed and slide my feet into my slippers. Then I shuffle to the toilet. I see Adolescent Son 16 leaning forward over the toilet bowl.
A feeling of pity overtakes me. He must have worked way too hard. I rub his back and get him a glass of water. “Are you okay?” I try comfortingly. I gently bring him back to his bed and then try to resume my sleep.
I've set the breakfast table, even though I know we all usually have breakfast at different times on Saturdays. "Mama, can I eat a sandwich with chocolate sprinkles at the couch?"
“Ahhhh…?” ‘No!’ ‘Well…’
Little Man reluctantly sits down at the kitchen bar when the living room door flies open. Teenage son 16 enters with a confused head.
“Are you okay?” I ask concerned. “Have you not been feeling well at work?” While Little Man has already eaten two sandwiches, Adolescent Son 16 is still staring at his first bite. “You really didn't feel well last night, did you?” I try again. He shakes his head. “I think I have the flu.”
I look at him startled. Adolescent daughter 14 was also in bed with the flu yesterday. Then Puberzoon 16 will have the same among the members. Well, it's our turn soon. Rest well and call in sick for tonight. It is impossible to work like this.'
While I crawl on the couch with Little Man, a small voice suddenly enters me. He's not sick. He has been drinking.
Damn , we handle it so carefully. As a parent, you have an influence on your adolescent's alcohol use. That is why it is important to properly inform your children about alcohol. We are not trying to forbid them anything, but we are trying to point out the dangers of alcohol.
Recently I read an article about adolescents and alcohol, that they should not 'learn' to drink at home because later - when they are adults - they have a greater chance of an alcohol addiction. While I thought it would be better for them to have a drink at home than secretly elsewhere. What if it goes wrong? Then you'd better be home, was my thought.
Am I doing it wrong? In the old days it was forbidden to drink at home, but when I was fourteen I was already drinking berry gin – secretly. Adolescents drink alcohol out of curiosity, to fit in or to act tough. But sometimes also because they don't dare to say no in the group. So did I. But not my intelligent adolescent son 16? Or is it?
Alcohol poisoning among young people is a serious and growing problem. The number of young people who end up in the emergency room with alcohol poisoning has been rising for seven years. The average age of the young people admitted is 16 years. How can you prevent alcohol abuse in adolescents? By forbidding them to drink alcohol? The legal drinking age has risen from 16 to 18. But nothing under 18? That is not easy in practice.
“Did you drink last night?” I ask the man right now. Teenage son 16 looks at me caught. “Uh, one beer,” he stammers. Now I look at him in disbelief. 'A beer? Who drinks one beer? Nobody!'
Big blue eyes look at me anxiously. “No, there were two,” he adds shyly. Bullshit. He now turns his gaze to the ground. I walk away angry. “Find it out!” I call after him.
He just called in sick to his boss and I'm able to recover at work. Which boss makes his employees drink at work? “Von?” I hear from the kitchen. I turn carefully to him. "Yes?"
“You're right, there were six.” I nod. “So you actually have a hangover?” He nods, embarrassed. “And where was your boss in this story?” “He had already gone home. We were left with a group of six.'
I realize there's no point in getting angry and forbidding him to drink alcohol. The damage is already done. The only thing I can try is to explain that you can drink a beer for fun, but that you have to guard your limits well. Would it help him? Do you understand that adolescents and alcohol are not a smart combination? On the other hand… when I was sixteen I sometimes had a drink. Does that make me an addict now?
“Now call your boss that you will come to work tonight. Your hangover will have worn off by then.” He looks at me unaware and nods. "I'll call my boss that I'll just come to work tonight." "Yes, boy, and drink a lot of water today and for the time being."
Adolescents and alcohol:Difficult right?
I find it a difficult subject and think that it not only depends on your personal ideas, but your choice should also differ per child. How do you deal with that and what are your experiences?
-x-
Ievy
Hint Information evenings are often held at schools about alcohol use, the way in which you can deal with it with your adolescent and how you can prevent an alcohol addiction. I can definitely recommend such an information evening! You can also find more information about how to treat an alcohol addiction at addiction care agencies such as Trubendorffer. recognizes.
<3 If you would like to read more about this subject, 'the alcohol-free adolescent' or 'Our children and alcohol' is highly recommended.
