Here in Fairbanks we have some of the most beautiful summers in the world. (That is, as long as it isn’t smoky, or rainy all summer.) But while we may cherish our midnight sun, there are some problems that can go along with it, especially if you have a teenage son or daughter.
Many Fairbanks families try to pack so much activity into the summer time that it seems to fly by way too fast and this can really put stress on a family. With soccer practice, football, camping, fishing, and hunting, teens can feel overwhelmed and they can also feel cut off from their friends.
Some parents will compensate for this by allowing their teen to basically be out all night. The fact that the sun is still up may trick us into thinking that there isn’t any harm in our teen being out at three in the morning...after all, there is still daylight!
This can be very dangerous. Remember in our last newsletter I mentioned that a Harvard University study showed that 25% of people driving between 1am and 3am have been drinking. Also, if you are working with your teen to help them reach their goal of waiting to have sex before marriage, then having them out completely unsupervised can be very dangerous.
Most parents would simply say that they trust their child and he/she would never get into trouble. Well the truth is that even the “best” kids sometimes make bad decisions that can have life altering affects.
The best way to protect our teens is to be an involved parent. Set limits for them and follow through with consequences if the limits are crossed. Our teens want and need discipline and will actually respect a parent more for setting rules and boundaries for them. It seems that many parents today are caught up with the idea that they need to be their child’s friend. This is not healthy! Your child has many friends. What they need is a parent! Step up and set higher standards for your child…they may surprise you.
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