By Rhea Jones
Columnist
Here’s something you don’t want to hear: teens party.
Obviously not every single teen parties. However, it is something most teens experiment with at some point in their youth years. This can be a tense topic for teen and parent relationships.
For teens, partying is a fun and exciting social outing. Especially considering there’s not a lot for teens to do after school or during weekends. Parents, however, are often concerned with the safety of their children, which is fair.
But drinking and socializing has been a part of our culture and kids often see adults engaging in this activity. So the question is, how should parents approach teens when it comes to partying?
Dear Mom & Dad here’s what teens think about partying...
First things first, what even goes down at middle/high school parties? A teenager from the local area explained that it depends on the size of the party as well as what age you are.
“There are very different vibes that come from a massive party versus a little get together with close friends. Smaller gatherings are very low key whereas big parties can get a little crazy. Although even the “big” parties in Okotoks are pretty safe since it’s such a small town.”
One of the biggest reasons a parent may be hesitant to let their kid go to a party is because they don’t know if it will be safe. The truth is, most high school parties will have alcohol and occasionally marijuana.
However, Okotoks teen parties rarely have any harder drugs, and kids are generally educated about avoiding them. Kids are just there to relax and have fun. The teen source from above says she attends at least two parties a month and has never been in a situation where she felt unsafe.
“I would still go to parties even if my parents said I couldn’t,” says a high school student from Okotoks.
In saying this, does it really matter what parents say about partying? If kids want to do something they will most likely find a way to do it. It’s just a question of whether they are going to be honest about it or if they are doing it behind their parent’s backs.
Therefore, would it not be safer to accept and be aware that your kid may be going to parties? That way you can lay down some ground rules, ensure they have a safe ride home, and know where they are if they need you.
The high school student claims that “If parents and kids had a no judgement relationship regarding partying, things would work a lot better because there would be no need to keep secrets and you could tell your parents the truth without consequences.”
Whether or not parents allow their teens to go to parties is ultimately their decision.
However, I encourage parents to have an honest and judgement-free conversation with their kids regarding partying.
This way parents will be aware of where their kids are and what they are doing, which in the end, is much safer than being completely oblivious to the situation. As we become young adults, we learn how to drive, we learn how to work, so why shouldn’t we learn how to party responsibly?
Rhea Jones is a French immersion student at Foothills Composite High School who loves to write and share her ideas. Her goal with her column Dear Mom and Dad is to encourage youth to read and participate with the Western Wheel.
