Teenagers love to experiment with everything adult and this includes teenage drinking. However, most Parents do not know when their Children start drinking yet research shows that most adults who take alcohol started when they were teenagers. How does a Parent avoid this?
?
teenage drinking in Kenya
My teenage daughter was not allowed to go for Music Festivals, at Provincial level, because a girl went and reported a group of them that they were drinking. So I asked my daughter whether it was true and you know how they answer, ? Muuum, I mean can you believe that? you know how well you have brought me up, I cannot dare do such a thing?. So I asked Okay did you taste? ?No mum, now what are you asking me mum?. So is that girl mad? No. So why would any normal girl lie? ? I don?t know, you know how teenagers can come up with such crazy ideas, seriously I do not know why she would think like that?. I was hoping that If I pushed her hard enough she would admit that she sipped so that the real discussion can begin but she did not.
?
Now, any teenage parent will tell you they dread to learn that their children drink, smoke or have sex because you know the consequences and that is when you start the sorrowful journey of doubting your Parenting skills.
?
I do not have a confession and so I am still doing my ?investigative journalism? which I believe will be finalised during the August holidays. I cannot imagine my daughter would even sip but if she is involved in habits that promote teenage drinking in Kenya, I would want to know so that I solve the problem early to further damage.
?
?
Family background can be a cause. Now I do not drink but I have a few family members that are alcoholics. That is why I am keen.
In Kenya there is a new trend being practised by modern Parents. Most modern parents in Kenya were brought up in the days where going at night was strictly prohibited. ?So the same parents put ?more or less the same restrictions on our teenagers today. However, because we are modern, we allow them to have house parties like we see in Hollywood movies. This is where teenagers meet in one of the teenagers house and they have fun together.
?
The parents are normally in the house but in another room or out for the evening leaving the teenagers unsupervised. The Parents feel partying under your roof is better than being out there in a disco because ?feel under our roof is sacred ground.
?
Research has shown that most young adults who drink started at home during teenage house parties or family house parties and this is a great cause of teenage drinking in modern Kenya.
Teenage Drinking in Kenya: The Solution
?
I do not think there is anybody who can solve the problem of teenage drinking other than the Parents. The 21st Century with all its trimmings requires hands on parenting or forever hold you piece when your child disappears into the Century.
?
A Parent today has to watch their children and especially teenagers like a hawk so that the values you have taught them in their formative years are not eroded by peer pressure which the teenagers love to succumb to. This means a Parent must know where their children are at each point and whom they are with. Must know your teenagers friends and have very tight ?sleep over? policies if you allow that culture in your home.
?
If it is house parties in your homes, a Parent is to ensure that rule number one is that there must be no intoxicating products brought into that party and that the party must be supervised by an adult. Those are the only reasons that would make you agree to allow a Party in your house. IF the house party is in another home, talk to the Parent hosting the Party and find out what restrictions they are putting to ensure the seed of teenage drinking is not sown during that party.
?
In modern Kenya there are no shamba?s (gardens) to go to so we live our children at home where there is a househelp and so they do not do any household chores and so what they are left to do is watch TV, video games, facebook or talk with friends. A whole 3-4 weeks are spend like that.
?
So our children are idle most of the time and an idle mind is the devils workshop. The purpose of the devils workshop is to destroy your children and one way to do that is introduce your teenager to teenage drinking.
?
I noticed with this kind of activity, they are not tired at all and so they do not have sleep even at 10pm. That means you will go to sleep and leave them watching? television. Which programmes come after 10pm? Adult movies. Who is with your children or teenagers at that time? What are they being exposed to?
?
Teenagers in America are allowed to work during holidays from age 16. Before that policy is introduced in Kenya, if your child has hit age 16 get them some voluntary place to spend their holidays like a children?s home of your choice etc. In my article what next after KCSE I mention that the? the 21st Century is a century of innovation and starting our children to work this early we are preparing them for the future.
?
The nature of teenagers is to experiment with everything adult so my advice to teenagers is experiment wisely. I also tell teenagers anything you start experiencing with when you are a teenager and you like it, may it be teenage drinking, cigarettes, drugs, sex or alcohol, that is what you will be addicted to when you are a grownup.
?
Talk to them about addiction and show them examples of people addicted to all the vices mentioned above so that they may understand and have visual images to accompany what you are saying.
?
Teenage drinking in Kenya is not the portion of your home and it does not have to be but you have to practise Proactive Parenting by talking with your children and being there when they need you and discuss all issues and let them know they can trust you by assuring them you are on their side to make them better not to spoil them.
?
Teenagers can want you to be on their side even when they have wronged, let them know every choice has a consequence and so even though you are on their side, they must face the consequences of their wrong doing and that includes teenage drinking in Kenya or sipping.
Source: http://www.wamaitha.com/1120/teenage-drinking-kenya-linked-house-parties/
vangogh yield crossbow airhead atherosclerosis steven tyler tropic thunder
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.