You know those free address labels that continually show up in your mailbox? Well, as a child, I loved to use 'em as stickers everywhere. I thought it was kind of funny that one sticker said MADD. I mean, don't they know it is spelled "mad?"
But then I learned what Mothers Against Drunk Driving was really about. I learned why my babysitter freaked out when I cracked open a Coors Light one day at the age of three because "I'm thirsty!" (I'm guessing I thought it was 7-up.) I learned what "being drunk" meant, and how driving in that state was absolutely a no-no.
During a trip to Argentina in high school, I watched with curiosity as some of my friends had alcohol. It was legal there, after all. I tried it myself, feeling butterflies not just because I felt I was breaking the law (even though I was not) but because of the effects of alcohol on a first-time drinker. I understood there was no way I could drive in this funky cloud.
But of course as I got older and my tolerance increased, I realized how people can erroneously think they are "just fine" when they aren't. I'd like to think I'm hyper-sensitive about counting the hours since I've had wine with dinner, but I'm willing to bet I was less cautious in college.
Now that I'm a mother, I have that scary feeling of vulnerability where I wish I could wrap my boys in a bubble, and yet know that if I do that they won't learn to fend for themselves. I know I need to educate them about drugs and alcohol, but without being so preachy that they dart the other direction.
The MADD sponsored Power of Parents website just launched today. It includes things like "Seven Tips for Getting Through to Your Teen" and includes stats such as:
- Underage alcohol use kills more young people than all illegal drugs combined
- 74% of kids (8-17) said their parents are the leading influence on their decisions about drinking
- Doing interventions as a family can reduce underage drinking and drunkenness by 30-60%
- When parents and kids are better connected, kids are less likely to drink or use other drugs.
When I read the stat about kids "8-17" I thought, "Oh, my son is 8!" Indeed, it is almost time for me to talk to him about these things. While I agreed to participate in this campaign, I admit I thought "Oh, I'm a ways off from having a teenager," but opinions about drugs and drinking are forming now. Things that used to be more "teen" are now "preteen" and even "pre-pretween." In fact, the Power of Parents has an "elementary parents" section that will be launching shortly. Like the Boy Scouts say, Be Prepared.
As I watch my two sons worry about making and keeping friends, I've already seen peer pressure. I know this will increase to "bigger" things. And it is scary. I am glad that other parents have been through it before, and are lending advice. And, of course, MADD has provided experts to answer questions as well.
Check out the Power of Parents, and these other related resources:
• Read the MADD Blog
• Follow MADD Parents on Twitter
• Visit MADD on Facebook
• Take the Underage Drinking Safety Quiz
• Do you support the drinking age? Check out the Support 21 Survey
--
I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of MADD. A donation was made to MADD in my name to thank me for taking the time to participate.
