economy

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How to Talk to Your Kids about Drugs…if You did drugs

Posted by Forward thinking dad on December 19, 2008
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I recently saw this advertisement in the New York Time. The head line was,
“How to talk to your kids about drugs if you did drugs. It was a full page
ad sponsored by the Partnersip for a Drug-Free America. You probably
remember the “this is your brain…this is your brain on drugs” campaign.
On balance, I tend to think they offer the best in public health messages.
But this message was unique.

This puts responsibility on the parents to work with their children to
prevent drug and alcohol abuse. One way is to help parents to overcome their
own ambivalence about being confronted with questions about their own
drug and alcohol history. This is in great contrast to prior messages,
that hope children or teens will simply say “no.”

Since the holidays are a time when families come together, it’s also a time
when drug and alcohol abuse tend to increase. Therefore it seems like a
good time to consider having a talk with your kids. And in order to help us do
so, the Partnership for a Drug Free America offers some guidance.

1.) This isn’t about you.

2) Think about how much your kids wants or needs to know. The fact
is we can all say too much.

3) Many experts suggest giving an honest answer or none at all.

4) Avoid giving your child more information than they have asked for.

5) Say what you mean to say, don’t beat around the bush “I don’t want
you to use drugs.”

6) Share what you’ve learned from your experience with drugs.

7) Try connecting around the reasons you might have used, such as,
“I thought I needed to use to fit in..It took me awhile to realize it wasn’t a
good reason.

8) Everyone makes mistakes, and trying drugs was a mistake I made. I love
you to much to watch you repeat bad decisions I made.

9)I wanted to share my experience with you, because even if drugs didn’t
ruin my life, I’ve seen them ruin other people’s lives.

10) Ask what they think. Keep asking questions and keep listening to
the answers.

11) Stay Calm. Try not to raise your voice. It’s ok to admit these conversations
aren’t easy for you either.

12) If you’re nervous, don’t put off having the conversation. This isn’t
about your past. It’s about your child’s future.

For more information, go to drugfree.org
Don\'t be a Patsy

Would you feel comfortable working in someone else’s home?

Posted by Forward thinking dad on November 25, 2008
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While typing this, one of the men working in our house, asked me a question which I couldn’t answer. He and his partner are walking around my house in their socks, as though they live here shouting to one another in Albanian. It made me wonder about people who make a living doing work in people’s homes.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that people need money. Moreover people need to work where they can find employment. However I don’t think everyone is cut out for working in someones home. I think it would be hard to meld into someone else’s world, if only for a short period of time.

I’m always amused by how many people prepare their homes for the coming of the cleaning lady. And once the cleaning begins, I’m not sure who is more concerned about the house us or the cleaning lady. It’s like we have to remind ourselves she is working for us.

Baby sitters are like this too. They come to take care of the kids and then after awhile, they are snuggling up on the couch with a blanket over them or enjoying dinner with the kids. I don’t really mind it, but I do find it amusing and curious. I don’t know that I could blend in so well into someones  home. But these people hang out, enjoy our space as if it is their own, do their job and then leave. And with babysitters, it seems like many of them find it hard to leave once they’ve set down roots in the house.

What kind of person is drawn to connecting with another family so intimately and why? I smile wondering if we’ll soon get into fightswith the plumbers, babysitters, or cleanning lady over what show to watch on the tv.

Can you imagine being invited to Sasha or Malia Obamas birthday party?

Posted by Forward thinking dad on November 12, 2008
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I know everyone is talking about the big inauguration bash for Obama in January. And there is no doubt that this will be a hard ticket to get and valuable one to have. But I think there is an invitation  more valuable than that- an invite to Sasha or Malia’s first birthday party.

Can you imagine receiving the little birthday card in the shape of the White House? Inside you’d see their hand writing inviting your kids to the birthday party in the red room? It would be one of those parties you’d most definitely want to attend, even if it is a drop off.

Perhaps upon entering the party, the kids could do a limbo under the security screening wands. Can you imagine a round of hide and seek in the White House? This could be followed up with a race up to the top of the Grand staircase. What kid wouldn’t want to play pinata in the Oval office?  Who wants to play musical chairs in the Cabinet room? And before cake, how about a game of egg toss in the China Room!

Most likely, the White House kitchen staff would prepare pizza and a cake in the shape of President Obama. I guess if they wanted to be silly, they could use the old mold of George Bush looking like Alfre E. Neuman on the cover of Mad magazine. And perhaps the girls could have their friends sleep over in the Lincoln and Queen bedrooms. Can’t you just picture the girls singing Hannah Montana songs talking about which Washington page is cute, gay, or a nerd.

As the evening gets later, can’t you just picture the President shouting,”Sasha,  Malia, its time to go to bed NOW! They’d likely giggle and try to show off to their friends, “Ok Mr. President.”