A differing perspective arose when a group of elderly people were talking about what was different between their lives as young people and today’s youth. The conversation was flowing. They noted that increased exposure to negative media, too much free time, too much money, and less parental and neighborly monitoring had resulted in kids who started risky behaviors at younger ages.
Then someone who had arrived late, interrupted the conversation to say, “I’m upset about of you calling our kids bad. They are not. They are good kids. I was watching kids play sports last night. There are a lot of good kids. I see them all the time.”
He is right. There are a lot of good kids. They are the majority. But, there are also good kids who occasionally make poor choices when it pertains to alcohol . My son is one of them. He went out for sports. He participated in football, baseball, basketball and track. He treats his elders with respect. He drops in after work to check on his grandparents. He spends time talking with them at the kitchen table, mows their lawn, and does any heavy lifting. He stops to help others in need. In fact, he was one of the two rescuers who stopped their cars help the sheriff when his bucking horse broke his pelvic bone while riding across a field a few yards from the road. He is an easygoing, loyal friend, with a quirky sense of humor who doesn’t easily give up on friends.
As an adult, my son continues to be involved in sporting activities. But he also continues the binge drinking that he started with his older team mates he was just 15. He has suffered a few consequences since then, but that’s another story.
The point is that a majority of youth drink underage are not “bad kids”. They are good kids who sometimes make poor choices. They are our kids. Help your youngster to make better choices when it comes to alcohol. Be a good role model when you drink, talk to your kids about the dangers of substance abuse regularly, parse your trust, and stay involved in their daily activities. Maybe your good kids can then avoid some of the costs that accompany early and excessive use alcohol.
Kathy Getting
