| When George Bush announced the "Bush | | | | tools available to parents often go |
| Doctrine" as a policy of preemptive | | | | unused until it's too late. Often |
| attacks on terrorists and states that | | | | parents unwilling to use such tools, or |
| harbor them, citizens lined up both for | | | | use them properly, will accept heavier |
| and against his argument. When it comes | | | | losses if not outright defeat. Quality |
| to parenting and the dangers facing | | | | intelligence gathering is the |
| teens during adolescence, some parents | | | | cornerstone of an effective battle plan. |
| have begun implementing their own | | | | Ben Franklin once said, "Wise is the man |
| version of the "Bush Doctrine" as | | | | who fixes his roof before it rains." If |
| critics try to make their voices heard | | | | ol' Ben were alive today, I'm certain he |
| as well. | | | | would encourage parents to sit down with |
| Sexual predators targeting children in | | | | their kids long before such problems |
| Internet chat rooms, temptations to | | | | were likely to occur to explain their |
| drive recklessly and at high speeds, and | | | | expectations, the tools at their |
| substance abuse all threaten the lives | | | | disposal, and the rewards and |
| and well-being of teens. | | | | consequences tied to the information |
| Most parents, whether they know it, or | | | | they gathered. |
| will admit it, have teens who have been | | | | Kids need to know that their parents are |
| at risk from these dangers. | | | | on their side and that they are united |
| Where should parents draw the line in | | | | against common foes. Parents need to let |
| their family's personal battle with | | | | their teens know they are providing them |
| these "terrorists of adolescence," you | | | | with a "socially acceptable" excuse to |
| know... the people and activities that | | | | deter pushy peers. What could be a more |
| put a teen's life and well-being at | | | | potent response for teens than "I can't: |
| stake? Are parents even in the fight? | | | | my parents are checking"? |
| How committed are they and for how long? | | | | Ronald Reagan, in dealing with the |
| The enemy is present and totally | | | | Soviet Union during the Cold War, took a |
| committed. Parents are woefully | | | | "trust and verify" approach that when |
| outnumbered and surrounded, and their | | | | applied by parents properly in this |
| enemy will never, ever give up. However, | | | | capacity can help parents and teens find |
| in parents' arsenal, they possess the | | | | a reasonable middle ground. Trust |
| most powerful weapon of all. If misused, | | | | without verification removes the |
| this weapon could be ineffective and may | | | | leverage and power the bond of trust has |
| even backfire. What is this weapon? It's | | | | on teens. Many teens believe (and |
| the bond of trust between parents and | | | | rightfully so) that their parents are |
| their teens. | | | | easily duped and don't know what's going |
| Why would parents object to putting a | | | | on. With this belief, teens doubt their |
| GPS system in their teen's car to alert | | | | mischief will ever be discovered and |
| them when their teens broke family rules | | | | don't feel their parental bond of trust |
| (and often laws) by driving their car | | | | is in jeopardy. Little or no behavioral |
| too far, too fast, or recklessly? Why | | | | deterrent exists. Additionally, without |
| would they scoff at the idea of putting | | | | verification, a window of opportunity |
| software capable of retrieving their | | | | exists for uninformed parents to cause |
| teen's email and Internet chat room | | | | damage to the bond of trust by falsely |
| discussions on their family computer? | | | | assuming that their kids aren't |
| Knowing that substance abuse is illegal, | | | | deserving of their trust and treating |
| addictive, and deadly, why would parents | | | | them accordingly. |
| refuse to implement a home drug testing | | | | If decisions are only as sound as the |
| program that would allow them to know | | | | facts on which they are based, more |
| which, if any substances their teens | | | | information is better than less. Facts |
| were using? While parents as well as | | | | trump gut instinct, and it's better to |
| teens value the bond of trust, some | | | | get important information sooner rather |
| choose to believe that merely suggesting | | | | than later. "Terrorists of adolescence" |
| that these tools may be necessary, makes | | | | exist, and parents are equipped with the |
| them the first to break that bond. | | | | most powerful weapons in the battle. |
| Consequently, advances in technology | | | | It's simply up to parents to use them |
| that make these accurate, real-time | | | | wisely. |