Editorial: Teens need parents to act their age
THE HERALD'S VIEW
The Monterey County Herald
Posted: 02/24/2010 05:39:26 AM PST
Updated: 02/24/2010 08:40:47 AM PST
Our optimistic side hopes the crash that seriously injured five Pacific Grove teens in the wee hours of Sunday morning will help serve as a wakeup call for a generation of Peninsula parents who seem to have all but surrendered in the battle against teenage drinking and driving.
We don't know the details of what led up to this most recent crash, so we don't pretend to judge the parents of the injured teens. But we have lost tolerance for parents who have given in to the notion that "they're going to drink no matter what we do."
Many parents — too many — have even chosen to provide their teens with alcohol and a place to drink it under the theory that at least they will know where the kids are. That might be a semi-acceptable substitute for good old-fashioned parenting if parents were fully equipped to sit in the room with the youngsters and their friends for the duration, and make sure not one of them left the premises with car keys in hand.
But teenagers, as most of us remember, are a tricky lot. Hate to say it, but many are darned good liars. Couple that with a bit of parental "coolness," an attempt by parents to show that they're not fuddy-duddies like some parents, and you have the recipe for disaster.
Click here to read complete article
THE HERALD'S VIEW
The Monterey County Herald
Posted: 02/24/2010 05:39:26 AM PST
Updated: 02/24/2010 08:40:47 AM PST
Our optimistic side hopes the crash that seriously injured five Pacific Grove teens in the wee hours of Sunday morning will help serve as a wakeup call for a generation of Peninsula parents who seem to have all but surrendered in the battle against teenage drinking and driving.
We don't know the details of what led up to this most recent crash, so we don't pretend to judge the parents of the injured teens. But we have lost tolerance for parents who have given in to the notion that "they're going to drink no matter what we do."
Many parents — too many — have even chosen to provide their teens with alcohol and a place to drink it under the theory that at least they will know where the kids are. That might be a semi-acceptable substitute for good old-fashioned parenting if parents were fully equipped to sit in the room with the youngsters and their friends for the duration, and make sure not one of them left the premises with car keys in hand.
But teenagers, as most of us remember, are a tricky lot. Hate to say it, but many are darned good liars. Couple that with a bit of parental "coolness," an attempt by parents to show that they're not fuddy-duddies like some parents, and you have the recipe for disaster.
Click here to read complete article
