Alcohol can impair proper teen brain development. • Drinking can program a teen's brain for alcoholism. • Drinking starts as early as grade school in Utah. • Express love daily to your kids. • Participate in fun activities as a family. • Eat dinner together as a family. • Listen with love and empathy to your children. • Set clear "no-alcohol" rules for your children. • Establish consequences for underage drinking. • Follow through on no-alcohol rules. • Review family rules regularly. • Know where your kids are. • Know who your kids are with. • Know what your kids are doing. • Alcohol can impair proper teen brain development. • Drinking can program a teen's brain for alcoholism. • Drinking starts as early as grade school in Utah. • Express love daily to your kids. • Participate in fun activities as a family. • Eat dinner together as a family. • Listen with love and empathy to your children. • Set clear "no-alcohol" rules for your children. • Establish consequences for underage drinking. • Follow through on no-alcohol rules. • Review family rules regularly. • Know where your kids are. • Know who your kids are with. • Know what your kids are doing. • Alcohol can impair proper teen brain development. • Drinking can program a teen's brain for alcoholism. • Drinking starts as early as grade school in Utah. • Express love daily to your kids. • Participate in fun activities as a family. • Eat dinner together as a family. • Listen with love and empathy to your children. • Set clear "no-alcohol" rules for your children. • Establish consequences for underage drinking. • Follow through on no-alcohol rules. • Review family rules regularly. • Know where your kids are. • Know who your kids are with. • Know what your kids are doing. • Alcohol can impair proper teen brain development. • Drinking can program a teen's brain for alcoholism. • Drinking starts as early as grade school in Utah. • Express love daily to your kids. • Participate in fun activities as a family. • Eat dinner together as a family. • Listen with love and empathy to your children. • Set clear "no-alcohol" rules for your children. • Establish consequences for underage drinking. • Follow through on no-alcohol rules. • Review family rules regularly. • Know where your kids are. • Know who your kids are with. • Know what your kids are doing. • Alcohol can impair proper teen brain development. • Drinking can program a teen's brain for alcoholism. • Drinking starts as early as grade school in Utah. • Express love daily to your kids. • Participate in fun activities as a family. • Eat dinner together as a family. • Listen with love and empathy to your children. • Set clear "no-alcohol" rules for your children. • Establish consequences for underage drinking. • Follow through on no-alcohol rules. • Review family rules regularly. • Know where your kids are. • Know who your kids are with. • Know what your kids are doing. • Alcohol can impair proper teen brain development. • Drinking can program a teen's brain for alcoholism. • Drinking starts as early as grade school in Utah. • Express love daily to your kids. • Participate in fun activities as a family. • Eat dinner together as a family. • Listen with love and empathy to your children. • Set clear "no-alcohol" rules for your children. • Establish consequences for underage drinking. • Follow through on no-alcohol rules. • Review family rules regularly. • Know where your kids are. • Know who your kids are with. • Know what your kids are doing. • Alcohol can impair proper teen brain development. • Drinking can program a teen's brain for alcoholism. • Drinking starts as early as grade school in Utah. • Express love daily to your kids. • Participate in fun activities as a family. • Eat dinner together as a family. • Listen with love and empathy to your children. • Set clear "no-alcohol" rules for your children. • Establish consequences for underage drinking. • Follow through on no-alcohol rules. • Review family rules regularly. • Know where your kids are. • Know who your kids are with. • Know what your kids are doing. • Alcohol can impair proper teen brain development. • Drinking can program a teen's brain for alcoholism. • Drinking starts as early as grade school in Utah. • Express love daily to your kids. • Participate in fun activities as a family. • Eat dinner together as a family. • Listen with love and empathy to your children. • Set clear "no-alcohol" rules for your children. • Establish consequences for underage drinking. • Follow through on no-alcohol rules. • Review family rules regularly. • Know where your kids are. • Know who your kids are with. • Know what your kids are doing. • Alcohol can impair proper teen brain development. • Drinking can program a teen's brain for alcoholism. • Drinking starts as early as grade school in Utah. • Express love daily to your kids. • Participate in fun activities as a family. • Eat dinner together as a family. • Listen with love and empathy to your children. • Set clear "no-alcohol" rules for your children. • Establish consequences for underage drinking. • Follow through on no-alcohol rules. • Review family rules regularly. • Know where your kids are. • Know who your kids are with. • Know what your kids are doing. • Alcohol can impair proper teen brain development. • Drinking can program a teen's brain for alcoholism. • Drinking starts as early as grade school in Utah. • Express love daily to your kids. • Participate in fun activities as a family. • Eat dinner together as a family. • Listen with love and empathy to your children. • Set clear "no-alcohol" rules for your children. • Establish consequences for underage drinking. • Follow through on no-alcohol rules. • Review family rules regularly. • Know where your kids are. • Know who your kids are with. • Know what your kids are doing. •

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< Back to Discussion

Help, how to monitor teens while at work?

May 11, 2009 4:04:pm

I know that knowing where my kids are, what they’re doing, and who they’re with prevents underage drinking, but I work until 7:00 most evenings. As a single parent, how can I stay in touch? Is just calling on the phone enough? I’m hoping another parent in my situation might have an answer that works.

Thanks.

Comments

Just a little text message can help!

by Cindy B on July 08, 2009 08:32:00am

I often will send my kids a short little text message to just keep in contact with them. You know ... what they are doing, where they are, and who they are with. Plus, my kids think it is cool that I know how to text!

Do your kids have good friends?

by Amanda on May 15, 2009 08:26:00am

I probably don’t worry as much as I should about what my kids are doing when they’re with their friends, because they’re all good kids. None of them drink. I know most of their parents, and they would kill them if they ever touched alcohol.

Thank you for the suggestions

by Susan on May 14, 2009 01:28:00pm

I don’t know if I can get time off work, but I do have a neighbor who will keep an eye out for me. Don’t know why I didn’t think to ask before!

Three words: After school activities

by Ben R. on May 14, 2009 10:30:00am

You know what they say about idle hands. My kids are supervised, and they’re having fun.

For me, a phone call is enough.

by Michael on May 13, 2009 07:31:00pm

I’m lucky to have a good relationship with my kids. We’ve talked about drinking alcohol and smoking a lot, and they know our rules about both. I talk to them a lot on the phone, and I don’t think they’ve ever lied to me about anything. It probably just comes down to your kids and how close you are to them.

Take an hour or two off work…

by Brian on May 13, 2009 11:23:00am

…and come home early. Let your kids know you were just thinking of them and wanting to see how they were doing. A surprise visit from mom now and then keeps kids honest. Plus, it’s nice to leave work early! ;)

Do you have a good neighbor?

by Jennifer on May 12, 2009 11:20:00am

We’re friends with our neighbors across the street, and my kids know that if they’re doing anything they shouldn’t be, of if they tell me they’re home and they’re not, I’m going to find out about it. I’ve found that being a single parent is a lot easier when you don’t have to do it all on your own. If you have good neighbors, use them.

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