DISCLAIMER: Advertisement banners on this or any page of POPS by TRIPOD.COM are not endorsed by him!
IF EVERYBODY SAYS IT CAN NOT HAPPEN TO THEIR KIDS --
THEN WHOSE KIDS IS IT HAPPENING TO?
NOT YOURS, RIGHT?
Well, would you feel any differently if you knew a high percentage of all high school seniors have tried cocaine? And even a higher percentage of those are using it currently!
NOT your kid? Well, how about this ... 54% of all high school seniors have smoked marijuana. And over half of them smoke it regularly!
STILL NOT YOUR KID? Or maybe you are not sure anymore!
Well, the best way to know for sure is to talk with your child. Of course speaking to your child like this takes a lot of courage. And to do it effectively takes a lot of homework --- like reading articles, attending meetings, and talking with other parents. This way, your child will see you as a well informed source!
GET HELP! Contact your local agency on drug abuse for more information!
PEER PRESSURE AND PROBLEMS
The first thing we will talk about is why people use drugs and alcohol in the first place.
There are as many different answers to that question as there are hamburgers at McDonalds! Some people use drugs to relax or forget their problems or fall asleep at night. Others do it because they think everybody else does it and they think they will be weird if they do not.
But the plain fact is that most people try drugs or alcohol for the first time because someone they know uses drugs or alcohol.
The fancy words for it is PEER PRESSURE-- either a little or a lot -- to do something to be like their friends.
Peer pressure is NOT always a bad thing!
It plays a big part in determining how we dress and talk and what dance steps we do. It is a main reason that most kids dress and act a lot alike, instead of looking and acting like people from another planet!
But peer pressure can cause problems. If the kids in a group shoplift, at say WalMart, it might be easier for others to shoplift too! And even if you believe that stealing is wrong, one might do it because they do not want their friends to think they are afraid to do it.
It is the same with lots of other stuff. Sometimes, people do things just because they are afraid of what their friends will think of them if they do not!
And there is a word for people who do things because they are afraid of what other people will think if they do not DUMB!
KIDS AND DRUGS [SEARCH RESULTS]
KIDS HEALTH: What You Need To Know About Drugs
DRUG ABUSE SCREENING QUIZ
ARE YOUR KIDS USING DRUGS?
A CHILD'S REQUIREMENTS
Dearest Parents,
MY HANDS are small; please do not expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball. My legs are short so please slow down that I can keep up with you.
[~~~~]
MY EYES have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely. Do not restrict me unnecessarily.
{~~~~}
HOUSEWORK will always be there. I am litle for only a short time; please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly.
[~~~~]
MY FEELINGS are tender; please be sensitive to my needs; do not nag me all day long. [You would not want to be nagged for your inquistiveness.] Treat me as you would like to be treated.
{~~~~}
I NEED your encouragement to grow. Please go easy on the criticism; remember, you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.
[~~~~]
PLEASE GIVE me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I will be prepared to make the kind of decisions life requres of me.
{~~~~}
PLEASE DO NOT do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts do not quite measure up to you expectations. I know it is hard, but please do not try to compare me with my brother or sister.
[~~~~]
PLEASE DO NOT be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it is a great way to show kids that your marriage is very special!
Signed,
YOUR KIDS
20 WAYS TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO "USE" DRUGS
#1 NEVER Eat together as a family.
#2 TALK TO your children, not with them and never listen!
#3 NEVER HAVE family outings which occur weekly, monthly, or annually that they can look foward to as a family unit.
#4 PUNISH YOUR CHILDREN in public and never praise them or reinforce their positive behavior.
#5 ALWAYS SOLVE their problems; make their decisions for them.
#6 LEAVE THE RESPONSIBIITY of teaching morality and spiritual training to the schools and the church.
#7 NEVER LET your children experience cold, fatigue, adventure, injury, risk, challenge, experimentation, frustration, discouragement, etc.
#8 THREATEN YOUR CHILDREN, i.e., "If you ever try drugs or alcohol, I will punish you!"
#9 EXPECT YOUR CHILDREN to get "A's" in all subjects at school.
#10 ALWAYS PICK UP after them and do not encourage them to accept responsibility.
#11 DISCOURAGE children from talking about their feelings, i.e., anger, sadness, fear, etc.
#12 BE OVER PROTECTIVE and do not teach your child the meaning of the word consequence.
#13 MAKE YOUR child feel that their "mistakes" are sins!
#14 PUT YOUR CHILD OFF when they ask "why" and tell them all the time "Because I said so!"
#15 LEAD YOUR CHILD to believe that you are "perfect" and "infallible".
#16 KEEP YOUR HOME atmosphere in a "state of chaos".
#17 NEVER TELL THEM HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM and never discuss your feelings with them.
#18 NEVER HUG THEM or display affection in front of them.
#19 ALWAYS EXPECT THE WORST and never give them the benefit of the doubt.
#20 DO NOT "EVER" TRUST THEM!
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
E-MAIL POPS
BACK TO THE WORLD OF POPS
A World of POPS
Production
10-18-04
Revised 10-16-05