Written by Mariah J. Garratt || Photo by @rawpixel on Unsplash Today’s teens have only ever known the age 21 threshold for the purchase of alcohol. However, many parents may still remember pre-Reagan presidency, when legal drinking ages were given far more flexibility. In fact, before the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 was…
Written by Mariah J. Garratt || Photo by Simon Maage on Unsplash The phrase “under the influence” can mean more than a state of drunkenness. We all experience a broad range of influences, including those that may potentially drive young people to pick up an alcohol habit. Here is how you can respond to your…
Written by Mariah J. Garratt || Photo by Andrea Tummons on Unsplash As a parent, seeing your child succeed in life is likely to be a high priority on your list. Unfortunately, encouraging the avoidance of underage drinking while promoting healthy habits and relationships isn’t always an easy task. Teenagers were proven to…
Written by Mariah J. Garratt || Photo by JESHOOTS.com on Stock Snap Even if you and your spouse have rules for your teen about underage drinking, the holiday season can put you in an awkward place with relatives who might not be on the same page. Whether you decide to serve alcohol for those who…
In 2016, the Illinois Youth Survey revealed that nearly a third of 12th graders in Iroquois County didn’t think that their parents saw any harm in them drinking. Despite the clear dangerous effects that drinking can have on children including an increased risk of damage to the developing brain, poor decision making, and alcohol use…
As a parent, sometimes it feels like your child doesn’t listen to anything you say. From telling them to clean up their room only to see it still looking like a mess a day later to trying to discuss something important with them while their eyes are glued to their smartphone – it’s only natural…
In Iroquois County, 61% of high school seniors admit that they have used alcohol in the past year, and 45% of all sophomores say that they have already started drinking alcohol on some level. To go deeper into the statistics, view the Iroquois County Youth Survey Report here. Discussions about alcohol are not easy, but…
An important part of celebrating life is having fun, and there’s no group that likes to have fun more than teenagers. For centuries, parents have battled to draw the line between letting their teens have fun and keeping them safe, and it hasn’t gotten any easier with how connected our teens are with their friends,…
Being a parent isn’t always fun, and there is no blueprint to follow. We learn over time what works and what doesn’t and we try our best with the information we have. But we all make mistakes. One of the mistakes that we, as parents, often make is avoiding important conversations that we should have…