Last week a 15 Y/0 boy from a neighborhood near us was critically injured in a car accident. Police said alcohol was involved. Too bad his parents did not read the story below. It’s from one of my favorite newsletters: Youth Think.
Just One Wish
If I had one wish – just one wish – I would wish Alisa wasn’t killed by a 17-year old drunk driver when she was just 15 –
that I could still hug her and kiss her and tell her I love her.
If I had more than one wish, I would wish I knew before she was killed what I know now. I wish I knew then that research shows talking with our children frequently and respectfully about our expectations to never drink alcohol before age 21, nor getting in the car with someone who had been drinking, was more effective than I believed.
I wish I knew then that high school students who receive a message from their parents that underage drinking is completely unacceptable are more than 80 percent less likely to drink than teens who receive other messages.
I wish I could have the opportunity to watch Alisa roll her eyes at me, as only teens can do so well, and say, “I know, Mom,”
when I would bring the subject up again. I would love that, because I would quietly know that the message was getting in.
Alisa wasn’t drinking, but she got in the care with someone who was. Maybe, just maybe, if I had talked with her more
frequently about it she would be alive today.
And – I wish that every parent would read the downloadable Power of Parent handbook on the Madd website. It is such a great guide to help parents have the life-saving discussions with our children. I want you to be able to continue to hug your children and kiss your children and tell them you love them.
Source: A letter from Jan Withers, National President, Mothers
Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
To see more and to order the free handbook go to: http://www.madd.org