Parents Modeling Behavior

Originally Published Aug 31, 2016

We can learn a lot from our teens, and have reprinted an opinion piece from last Fall in our student-run newspaper, the Bark. The article discusses parental drinking from the little league bleachers and around the kiddie pools to gatherings at home.

With Halloween coming up, it’s a good reminder to parents to pay attention to the behavior they model for their kids and to think twice before hitting the streets with those red solo cups!

The article ends with this poignant reminder: that Marin youth “should be able to look to their parents for guidance–and parents should know that when they’re under the influence, their children can be influenced too”. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Parental drinking inadvertently influences teenagers

by Lucy Tantum | October 10, 2014

If Marin youth are to grow up with a proper understanding of the effects of alcohol and the implications of excessive drinking, then they should be able to look to their parents for guidance — and parents should know that when they’re under the influence, their children can be influenced too.

A central tenet of our “BE the Influence” program is that we parents are still the biggest influences in our teens’ lives.  What we do is often more important that what we say.  If you haven’t read this Bark article, it is reprinted here.  If you have, it is worthwhile reading again.