The most challenging conversation you’ll have tonight will be one that involves very few words on your end. Tonight, ask your teen what they know about drugs and alcohol, and then sit silently while they speak. Resist the impulse to jump in with an opinion or share what you know. Listening is the key to getting teens to talk. If the conversation lags, offer a fact––not an opinion––about drugs and alcohol and give your teen space to come to their own conclusion. Make it clear that they can come to you with questions, and they will when they have one.
About Melissa Ford
Melissa Ford is the senior strategist at Women Online. As a writer, she covers a diverse range of topics including education, health, technology, and parenting. She is also the mother of amazing twin teens.
Read more articles by this author