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