Just read mommy blogger Lisa Belkin’s article in the New York Times Magazine entitled “Let the Kid Be.”

Let the kid be? What does this mean exactly?

Here at the Partnership, we believe in creating and maintaining a strong bond with one’s teen. Parents need to stay involved, keep an ongoing dialogue with their kids, and know their whereabouts, their friends, their school habits and their online activities.

But Belkin brings up some good food for thought – at what point does concerned, involved parenting actually become helicopter parenting (or “I-am-never-going-to-let-my-kid-out-of-my-sight parenting,” as Belkin jokingly calls it)?

Maybe, as this article suggests, just “chilling” is the smartest thing we can do as moms and dads. We’ll be less stressed and fearful of parental failure, our kids will feel less stifled, and we may even save some cash in these tight economic times. But, on the other hand – can you really ever be over-involved as a parent? After all, it’s our job (and our instinct) to help and protect our kids.

What do you think? When does protecting become overprotecting? Where do you draw the line between good parenting and helicopter parenting – or do you not draw a line at all?

• 	Posted by: Joe Keenan | 3 Comment(s)
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Yesterday I posted a great article on just how much teens are texting these days (hint: it’s even more than you think). So it may be hard to believe that while our kids are so steeped in their own little virtual worlds, they are actually hugging and non-sexually touching each other more than ever! In fact, gratuitous hugging has become so common and disruptive lately that many middle and high schools around the country are actually banning this seemingly innocent gesture. In this article from the New York Times, Sarah Kershaw explores all the ins and outs of the new teenage hug.

So, what’s your take on all this? By banning hugging, are we making it even harder for the Facebook and Twitter generation to develop genuine human bonds? Or do you think teens right now are creeping into dangerous—or at least uncomfortable—territory? (For more perspective, see what our guest blogger Vanessa has to say here.)

• 	Posted by: Joe Keenan | 2 Comment(s)
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The New York Times published an editorial today Not Winning the War on Drugs that, regardless of how you might feel about the total piece, contains an important message to all of us, especially parents.  It talks extensively about the ongoing struggles of fighting illegal drug supply around the globe and yet does indeed mention (albeit brief and dismissive) the very real progress we’ve made together in reducing the demand for drugs in America over the past several years.  Significant progress, like meth use down over 60 percent and overall teen drug use down 24 percent since 2001.  But tucked away toward the end are the important points to me.  Ones I wish had greater emphasis and prominence.  The conclusion calls for much more effort to curb demand overall, investing more on addiction treatment, emphasizing prevention, and shifting the model to one of a public health concern.  

That’s right where we are here at the Partnership.  We view drug use and childhood drinking as adolescent health issues.  These are behaviors that are preventable, and if use should lead to the brain disease of addiction, one that is treatable.  As adults, we’re talking about the kids in our lives we love and whose health and potential we want to protect.  Obviously, as a nonprofit, non-government organization, the Partnership is dedicated to helping parents have the tools and information they want and need to engage with their kids and also to preventing first time drug use on a broad scale.  But as important is the work we’re doing right this very minute to create new science-based tools to help parents detect and intervene early when drug use and drinking is present as well as to support parents who are travelling a journey with a child through treatment and recovery.  

With our wonderful partners at the Treatment Research Institute in Philadelphia and with input from our Parents Advisory Board, last month we launched “Understanding The Teen Brain” at www.drugfree.org/teenbrain.  Please check it out.  Coming very soon are tools to help parents understand the current (and very different than when we were teens) drug landscape, a general parent toolkit of the essential nuts `n bolts every family can use, and an educational module to help parents make an early intervention if their child has begun to experiment.  We’re also working tirelessly with all of our partners to fulfill our promise to parents who have children in, or in need of, addiction treatment.  We believe passionately we must be advocates for parents, their children and for improving adolescent treatment.  Keep a close eye on us – there are exciting, useful things on the way in the coming months!

As we transition into the July 4th holiday, my best wishes to you and your family.  I’ll leave you with a thought a parent shared with me several times last week, “…touch your children every day, tell them you love them and make certain they know you care.” 

• 	Posted by: Steve Pasierb | 1 Comment(s)
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Did you see the article in the New York Times about how reality shows are getting “too real?”

A&E’s “Intervention” let someone drive drunk and I remember years ago MTV’s “Real World” let someone get so drunk she had alcohol poisoning. Producers and networks, or more specifically their lawyers, say they have no responsibility to step in to stop a crime. I’m sure that’s true. And I’m not saying they have even a moral obligation. That’s on them. They have a job to do and that’s to make compelling TV. Whatever.

Here’s my problem: we are watching this stuff. Not me, personally and obviously not you either, but we as a general public. (More…)

• 	Posted by: Sarit Catz | 3 Comment(s)
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