Beyond “Just Say No”: Parenting Tips

This article was originally posted on the elizgreene.com website: Recently my 14-year-old daughters and I attended the “In My Shoes” exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Library. Hoping to spark conversation between parents and teens, the exhibit was created by teen patients at Rosecrance’s adolescent campus in Rockford, Illinois, the exhibit displays shoes that have been painted and decorated by teens to tell their story about substance use. I was contracted to blog about the exhibit, and was interested to see if it would indeed spark conversation.  Here is what happened in the car on the way back from the exhibit: Me: “So, it seems like the exhibit was designed to get kids and parents talking about substance abuse. Do you think we talk about that enough?” Daughter #1:  Looks up from her phone, “Yes.” Daughter #2:   “We talk about it at school all the time.  It’s all ‘Don’t do it.’  It is the same thing all the time.” Hmm… that is interesting.  It is true. Even the conversations my husband and I have had with them has been rooted in a kind of right vs wrong, disciplinary “Just Say No” conversation (mixed with some cautionary tales). Me: “So, the stories on the shoes, do you think that was more directed at teens or at parents?” Daughter #2: “Parents. Kids know that stuff.” Me: “Huh, okay.  So, some of the stories were about really bad things happening to the person.  Others were about depression.  What do ...
Source: Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Award Winning Blog Events & Media Source Type: blogs