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Don’t we sometimes get tired of bad news? We often find ourselves getting frustrated when reading the newspaper, watching tv, or reading journals because statistics and news are often about negative things. Sometimes it is depressing to hear all the bad things going on in the world.
Sometimes what we need is a change in attitude. Maybe we need to stop dwelling on the bad things, and focus on all the good that is out there. Take for example, teen drug and alcohol abuse. We hear statistics about the increase in prescription drug abuse among teens, or the number of college students that drink, and we might feel like throwing our hands up and giving in. What we really need to do, however, is find the little positives, the good things kids are doing, the small victories.
The Perception of Peer Pressure
The majority of kids actually don’t do drugs. We can’t deny the fact that there are too many that do, but most kids don’t. When teens are under the impression that everyone else does drugs and everyone experiments with alcohol, the peer pressure just closes in on them, and it will seem like such a big task to them to stay away from it. Teens need to know that they aren’t alone in the struggle, that there are plenty of others feeling what they are feeling and working to stay away from drugs.
Positive Role Models
Kids really need role models as they grow up, and knowing that others have made it through the teenage years without trying drugs will help them a great deal. Older siblings, kids in higher classes, and even their own classmates can serve as role models. Parents should also be good role models for their kids. When parents show responsibility and healthy practices, their kids will pick up on that quickly. Parents should be involved with their kids’ lives, be supportive, and be prepared to initiate tough conversations about not getting involved with drugs or alcohol.
Positive Activities to Avoid Drug Abuse
Another thing parents can and should do is encourage their kids to get involved in positive activities. Teens are a very capable group of people, and parents should expect much more from them than to just hang out with friends and get in trouble. The teen years are a time for enlightening and education, and it is when people really get to know who they are. Parents should give their kids opportunities to get involved with different things, to develop those talents and interests. Don’t dread the teenage years as something you are lucky if you and your child survive. Open up the world for them, encourage their curiosity of things in the world and watch them do great things with their lives.
Sometimes when we expect the worst, that’s just what we get. We need to surround ourselves and our children with positive attitudes, positive influences, and positive expectations.
