Realistically keeping teens away from drugs, smoking and alcohol?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports, OP. Sports.

This is insane to me that people think this.

Folks, the high school sports crowd are the partiers. Wake up!

Yes!! Play hard, party harder, anyone? The jocks make substance abuse a badge of honor. Definitely for alcohol anyway.

Well, there is a big difference between the football/lacrosse crowds and the cross-country/tennis crowds. Choose your sports wisely!

[Anonymous]

A close family friend recently started summer school ahead of his freshman year of college. He has told us that every.single.person he’s seen at parties vapes. He also admitted he’s been offered and tried a pot brownie. This is a good kid, straight A student who played baseball year round and stayed out of trouble in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports, OP. Sports.

This is insane to me that people think this.

Folks, the high school sports crowd are the partiers. Wake up!

Yes!! Play hard, party harder, anyone? The jocks make substance abuse a badge of honor. Definitely for alcohol anyway.

Well, there is a big difference between the football/lacrosse crowds and the cross-country/tennis crowds. Choose your sports wisely!

While I’m hoping that you’re right bc DS runs XC, DH was a state-ranked cross-country runner in HS and disputes this. I dated a tennis player in college and he was definitely a partier starting in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A close family friend recently started summer school ahead of his freshman year of college. He has told us that every.single.person he’s seen at parties vapes. He also admitted he’s been offered and tried a pot brownie. This is a good kid, straight A student who played baseball year round and stayed out of trouble in high school.

My rising sophomore tells me this too. Everyone vapes at college. Sickens me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports, OP. Sports.

This is insane to me that people think this.

Folks, the high school sports crowd are the partiers. Wake up!

Yes!! Play hard, party harder, anyone? The jocks make substance abuse a badge of honor. Definitely for alcohol anyway.

Well, there is a big difference between the football/lacrosse crowds and the cross-country/tennis crowds. Choose your sports wisely!

While I’m hoping that you’re right bc DS runs XC, DH was a state-ranked cross-country runner in HS and disputes this. I dated a tennis player in college and he was definitely a partier starting in HS.

I think times have changed. Competition is much tougher these days, and there is definitely a "your body is a temple" mindset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Statistically what is most likely to keep your teenager from destructive behavior?

My twins are 11 and will be in Jr. High next year. I know that everything can start at this age and I want to prepare my kids.

I’m not a scare tactic type parent. I want to arm them with facts and tools. I know I experimented with drugs, alcohol and sex in HS but things are so different now. I’m worried.

IME, personality has a lot to do with it. Give birth to rule following introverts.

Other than that, specific education that covers all aspects and consequences of each activity. An instruction that - if they ever find themselves in need of a ride home after making a poor choice(s) -they have it no questions asked. You can avoid a DUI that way too.

Be the parent that asks questions about plans ahead of time to thwart some poor choice options. Be the parents that call the parents of the child that is hosting the party. We allowed wine at dinner on holidays so that it wasn’t as forbidden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports, OP. Sports.

This is insane to me that people think this.

Folks, the high school sports crowd are the partiers. Wake up!

Yes!! Play hard, party harder, anyone? The jocks make substance abuse a badge of honor. Definitely for alcohol anyway.

Well, there is a big difference between the football/lacrosse crowds and the cross-country/tennis crowds. Choose your sports wisely!

While I’m hoping that you’re right bc DS runs XC, DH was a state-ranked cross-country runner in HS and disputes this. I dated a tennis player in college and he was definitely a partier starting in HS.

I think times have changed. Competition is much tougher these days, and there is definitely a "your body is a temple" mindset.

LOL. We live in a very sports oriented town. I have one recent HS grad and another in the thick of it. I can promise you that certain high profile sports teams (who are also sending kids to college as recruited athletes) are the source of the biggest parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports, OP. Sports.

This is insane to me that people think this.

Folks, the high school sports crowd are the partiers. Wake up!

Yes!! Play hard, party harder, anyone? The jocks make substance abuse a badge of honor. Definitely for alcohol anyway.

Well, there is a big difference between the football/lacrosse crowds and the cross-country/tennis crowds. Choose your sports wisely!

While I’m hoping that you’re right bc DS runs XC, DH was a state-ranked cross-country runner in HS and disputes this. I dated a tennis player in college and he was definitely a partier starting in HS.

I think times have changed. Competition is much tougher these days, and there is definitely a "your body is a temple" mindset.

LOL. We live in a very sports oriented town. I have one recent HS grad and another in the thick of it. I can promise you that certain high profile sports teams (who are also sending kids to college as recruited athletes) are the source of the biggest parties.

A "sports oriented town"? Pick a better place to live, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports, OP. Sports.

This is insane to me that people think this.

Folks, the high school sports crowd are the partiers. Wake up!

Yes!! Play hard, party harder, anyone? The jocks make substance abuse a badge of honor. Definitely for alcohol anyway.

Well, there is a big difference between the football/lacrosse crowds and the cross-country/tennis crowds. Choose your sports wisely!

While I’m hoping that you’re right bc DS runs XC, DH was a state-ranked cross-country runner in HS and disputes this. I dated a tennis player in college and he was definitely a partier starting in HS.

I think times have changed. Competition is much tougher these days, and there is definitely a "your body is a temple" mindset.

LOL. We live in a very sports oriented town. I have one recent HS grad and another in the thick of it. I can promise you that certain high profile sports teams (who are also sending kids to college as recruited athletes) are the source of the biggest parties.

nearly all of the UMC towns with strong school systems I'm familiar with are sports focused

A "sports oriented town"? Pick a better place to live, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports, OP. Sports.

This is insane to me that people think this.

Folks, the high school sports crowd are the partiers. Wake up!

Yes!! Play hard, party harder, anyone? The jocks make substance abuse a badge of honor. Definitely for alcohol anyway.

Well, there is a big difference between the football/lacrosse crowds and the cross-country/tennis crowds. Choose your sports wisely!

While I’m hoping that you’re right bc DS runs XC, DH was a state-ranked cross-country runner in HS and disputes this. I dated a tennis player in college and he was definitely a partier starting in HS.

I think times have changed. Competition is much tougher these days, and there is definitely a "your body is a temple" mindset.

LOL. We live in a very sports oriented town. I have one recent HS grad and another in the thick of it. I can promise you that certain high profile sports teams (who are also sending kids to college as recruited athletes) are the source of the biggest parties.

A "sports oriented town"? Pick a better place to live, PP.

Have you been to an UMC?/"good schools" town that ISN'T kinda sports obsessed? I sure haven't

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports, OP. Sports.

This is insane to me that people think this.

Folks, the high school sports crowd are the partiers. Wake up!

Yes!! Play hard, party harder, anyone? The jocks make substance abuse a badge of honor. Definitely for alcohol anyway.

Well, there is a big difference between the football/lacrosse crowds and the cross-country/tennis crowds. Choose your sports wisely!

While I’m hoping that you’re right bc DS runs XC, DH was a state-ranked cross-country runner in HS and disputes this. I dated a tennis player in college and he was definitely a partier starting in HS.

I think times have changed. Competition is much tougher these days, and there is definitely a "your body is a temple" mindset.

LOL. We live in a very sports oriented town. I have one recent HS grad and another in the thick of it. I can promise you that certain high profile sports teams (who are also sending kids to college as recruited athletes) are the source of the biggest parties.

A "sports oriented town"? Pick a better place to live, PP.

Have you been to an UMC?/"good schools" town that ISN'T kinda sports obsessed? I sure haven't

We did not find McLean HS to be sports oriented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports, OP. Sports.

This is insane to me that people think this.

Folks, the high school sports crowd are the partiers. Wake up!

Yes!! Play hard, party harder, anyone? The jocks make substance abuse a badge of honor. Definitely for alcohol anyway.

Well, there is a big difference between the football/lacrosse crowds and the cross-country/tennis crowds. Choose your sports wisely!

While I’m hoping that you’re right bc DS runs XC, DH was a state-ranked cross-country runner in HS and disputes this. I dated a tennis player in college and he was definitely a partier starting in HS.

I think times have changed. Competition is much tougher these days, and there is definitely a "your body is a temple" mindset.

LOL. We live in a very sports oriented town. I have one recent HS grad and another in the thick of it. I can promise you that certain high profile sports teams (who are also sending kids to college as recruited athletes) are the source of the biggest parties.

A "sports oriented town"? Pick a better place to live, PP.

That would be any upscale, non-asian burb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports, OP. Sports.

This is insane to me that people think this.

Folks, the high school sports crowd are the partiers. Wake up!

Yes!! Play hard, party harder, anyone? The jocks make substance abuse a badge of honor. Definitely for alcohol anyway.

Well, there is a big difference between the football/lacrosse crowds and the cross-country/tennis crowds. Choose your sports wisely!

While I’m hoping that you’re right bc DS runs XC, DH was a state-ranked cross-country runner in HS and disputes this. I dated a tennis player in college and he was definitely a partier starting in HS.

I think times have changed. Competition is much tougher these days, and there is definitely a "your body is a temple" mindset.

LOL. We live in a very sports oriented town. I have one recent HS grad and another in the thick of it. I can promise you that certain high profile sports teams (who are also sending kids to college as recruited athletes) are the source of the biggest parties.

A "sports oriented town"? Pick a better place to live, PP.

Have you been to an UMC?/"good schools" town that ISN'T kinda sports obsessed? I sure haven't

Yes, there is a huge difference between a town that glorifies their boys' football/hockey/basketball/etc teams above all else and an UMC town that values high achievement in everything (sports, academics, extracurriculars). In the DC area, sports are big, but academic achievement and "being the best" at everything is bigger. Kids who are on the cross-country or swim/dive team in FCPS are generally not going to vape.

It's not "Beartown" or "Friday Night Lights" around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sports, OP. Sports.

This is insane to me that people think this.

Folks, the high school sports crowd are the partiers. Wake up!

Yes!! Play hard, party harder, anyone? The jocks make substance abuse a badge of honor. Definitely for alcohol anyway.

Well, there is a big difference between the football/lacrosse crowds and the cross-country/tennis crowds. Choose your sports wisely!

While I’m hoping that you’re right bc DS runs XC, DH was a state-ranked cross-country runner in HS and disputes this. I dated a tennis player in college and he was definitely a partier starting in HS.

I think times have changed. Competition is much tougher these days, and there is definitely a "your body is a temple" mindset.

LOL. We live in a very sports oriented town. I have one recent HS grad and another in the thick of it. I can promise you that certain high profile sports teams (who are also sending kids to college as recruited athletes) are the source of the biggest parties.

A "sports oriented town"? Pick a better place to live, PP.

Have you been to an UMC?/"good schools" town that ISN'T kinda sports obsessed? I sure haven't

Yes, there is a huge difference between a town that glorifies their boys' football/hockey/basketball/etc teams above all else and an UMC town that values high achievement in everything (sports, academics, extracurriculars). In the DC area, sports are big, but academic achievement and "being the best" at everything is bigger. Kids who are on the cross-country or swim/dive team in FCPS are generally not going to vape.

It's not "Beartown" or "Friday Night Lights" around here.

So I'm in New England, not DMV, in a town public school system that consistently ranks in top 3 or 4 in the state. But I can't imagine it's really that different. Town is full of doctors/lawyers/finance folks etc. Kids take a million APs/ECs and the push to go on to a name brand college is strong. And the lax players (who tend to come from wealthy families, not a cheap sport especially for those who play in private leagues) are huge partiers. This has hit closer to home for me recently because my younger kid is now part of that sports program and the opportunities to party have come way before he was really ready to navigate them. I can't speak to swim team/track as I haven't had a kid on those. But unfortunately there's some significant social capital concentrated in a few sports programs (soccer/Lax in our town), these tend be to the wealthy/popular kids who party. So yeah, not Friday Night Lights. More like kids with big houses whose parents head off to the beach/ski/lake house for the weekend. Look high school sports are great. I"ve had kids in soccer, basketball, field hockey, and lacrosse. But don't kid yourself that they are somehow a different breed of kid who transcends risk.

[Anonymous]

^^^ I was the original PP who said choose sports wisely. Tennis, gymnastics, swim/dive, cross-country... there are quite a few sports where drugs/alcohol are the exception rather than norm.