Join Me at the MADD #PowerOfParents Twitter Workshop on 8/14

You’ve seen that I’ve written about the importance of keeping an open dialogue and talking about underage drinking with my teenager.  In just over a week we’re going to be dropping her off at college and while I trust she’s going to make smart decisions, I can’t say the same for the rest of her peers .  And I’m taking advantage of these last few days she’s at home with us because back-to-school is a great time to start or continue an on-going conversation with your children about the dangers of alcohol because many teens continually encounter more opportunities or peer pressure to drink.

I’ve mentioned it in other posts, but it bears saying again – Parents remain the number one influence on their teens decision about drinking. A  survey of Texas teens and parents conducted by MADD Texas and made possible by a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation showed that 62 percent of Texas teens say their parents are the motivating factor for them not to drink.

Take a look at the first ‘Texas bottle.’  A survey of Texas teens and parents underscored a huge disconnect in what parents believe their teens face in terms of pressure to drink alcohol versus the reality of what their teens experience when it comes to alcohol. 

While 73 percent of teens claim the fact that most or all of their friends drink motivates them to drink, only 59 percent of Texas parents recognize this as a factor.

What parents do and say matters, and some teens may be getting mixed messages. 

 71 percent of teens reported that they were aware of parties where a parent or adult provided teens with alcohol.  Parents reported that it might be ok for teens to experiment with alcohol for certain occasions:  65 percent of parents said allowing teens to drink at a family gathering such as Thanksgiving was permissible, 49 percent of parents said a New Year’s Eve toast was permissible; and, 47 percent said it was ok for teens to drink as long as they were at home and not driving.

A national survey conducted by MADD and Nationwide showed that teens who receive the clear message from their parents that it is completely unacceptable to drink are more than 80 percent less likely to drink than teens who receive other messages.

It’s never too late to talk to with your children about the dangers of alcohol. MADD’s Power of Parents program offers informational materials, resources and workshops to help parents talk with their children about alcohol.

MADD developed its Power of Parents program and resources to help parents feel more confident about talking with their teens about the dangers of underage drinking.  The program is based on a handbook model developed by Pennsylvania State University researcher Dr. Robert Turrisi.  The 30-minute Power of Parents workshops, along with the free handbook, help parents and caregivers of teens start an ongoing conversation.  Based on two decades of research, the Power of Parents handbook has been shown to significantly reduce drinking behaviors when parents read it and start talking with their teens.

Come join me for a MADD Power of Parents Twitter Workshop!

The Motherhood is joining MADD Texas for this online workshop on Thursday, Aug 14 @ 1pm-2pm (EST) that will encourage and empower parents with how to talk with their teens about the many dangers and consequences of underage drinking, as well as the deadly impact of drinking and driving at any age.

 

Prizes: The Motherhood will award five prizes to participants who answer trivia questions tweeted by @TheMotherhood25 correctly. Each prize includes a Power of Parents Handbook and a one-on-one session with a Certified Power of Parents Trainer.

I hope to see you on Twitter to join in the discussion!