• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Laura Fuentes
  • Healthy Eating
  • Cookbooks
  • Recipes
  • About
  • #MOMLIFE
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Eat Healthy
  • Fasting
  • Meet Laura
  • Contact
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Eat Healthy
  • Fasting
  • Meet Laura
  • Contact
×

Filtering Less, Speaking to Kids More

This post is sponsored by Responsibility.org and their Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix program. All opinions are my own. This group is a not-for-profit organization working to fight underage drinking that I’m proud to work with.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve become a less “filtered” person, both with my adult relationships and with my kids. What I mean by this, is that I’m more consciously approaching my conversations with honest and direct answers, answers, especially during this time in our society when conversations are so very important.

With middle schooled aged kids that are interacting on social media with their friends and family members, I know that these types of platforms offer no filters during their browsing experience. Sure, my kids’ accounts are locked and they are followed by their friends and family members, but what they see is often left at the mercy of the algorithm.

Take last week for example. We went to celebrate Mardi Gras with our family members in Uptown New Orleans; a yearly, Sunday family day tradition of ours, to watch the parades, hang out with our extended family, and celebrate.

My kids and I were on the parade route catching beads when I decided to snap a few pictures and post one on Instagram. A few hours later, my daughter was on my Instagram account and tapped on some of the hashtags I had used for our photo.

While having a conversation with another adult, she gently tapped me on my shoulder and asked, “mom, I know people drink during Mardi Gras, but OMG somebody crashed their car into the people at the parade! I hope they didn’t kill anyone.” Image.

And that, my friend, is how what began as a family activity, turned into a discussion of adult decisions and consequences. About how alcohol is something to be enjoyed in moderation, as an adult, and how drinking too much can lead to people doing things they would otherwise not be very proud of.

For me, it’s essential to help my kids understand that their decisions can have consequences -in all areas of their lives. Some consequences will be obvious (examples include slurred speech, hangovers) and some will be less so (such as the effect that alcohol has on the developing brain). In just a few years, they’ll be celebrating Mardi Gras with their friends and their family members, and there will be drinking. Perhaps someone else will be driving a car, and the decision whether or not to get in the car with a person that has had too much to drink will be left to my child to make.

Having partnered with Responsibility.org for a couple of years now, I’m much better equipped to have these type of conversations, more candidly, less filtered with a heartfelt and honest approach with my kids. And the resources from Ask, Listen, Learn are perfect for my kids at this stage in their lives.

Often, it’s not about what I say to my kids; but how both my husband and I approach the subject. We show them the information and use examples (like the photos they saw on the explore page while on my Instagram account) to explain what we are sharing. They know I come from a place of concern for their safety and well-being and just want them to be aware of the reality that is all around them.

How do you talk to your kids about alcohol? Do you have any helpful tips?

More Partnerships

  • Daily Harvest Review | Is It Worth It?
  • 5 Ways Online School Helps Kids Build Life Skills
  • Sabra Party Platter Ideas for your Summer Gathering
  • Three Ingredient Healthy Fudgy Brownies with Sunsweet

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Tara

    March 23, 2018 at 9:59 am

    Very important topic. Thanks for sharing Laura.

    Reply
  2. Anna Jones

    March 22, 2018 at 4:49 pm

    This is an important topic and something parents need to talk to their kids about. It always surprises me how little many parents talk to their kids and it leaves us, their coaches, to approach these subjects. I am a gymnastics coach for both girls and boys 10-17 and I can tell you that the conversations of alcohol are happening at the gym even as young as 12. Kids have free time. and parents are busy and are very distracted. It’s no excuse. Thank you for getting your audience to realize they need to talk to their kids more.

    Reply
  3. Jenna

    March 14, 2018 at 11:02 am

    super helpful parenting post. thanks Laura!

    Reply
  4. Selena

    March 13, 2018 at 3:54 pm

    Great post. Last time I went to Mardi Gras was in 1997 and I was very drunk. Not a good example for my kids. Definitely not. Now, my oldest is 18 and told me he wants to go to college in New Orleans and I have this image that all he’ll do is drink and drink and drink…. I guess that’s in any college. I need to up my game on talking to him about making the right choices. Thanks for the encouragement.

    Reply
  5. Adrianne

    March 12, 2018 at 11:23 am

    I loved this post, Laura. Thank you for being open to sharing how you talk to your kids.

    Reply
  6. Jennifer C

    March 08, 2018 at 8:48 am

    My exhusband was an alcoholic. Leaving him was the hardest decision I had to make (I still loved him) but my children were growing up with a bad influence over their lives (they were 7 and 9 when I left him). Now they are 15 and 17 and I know that talking to them about alcohol openly is very important. I wish I had the courage to speak to them earlier (while I was till married) about what was happening but I didn’t know how. Thank you for sharing this post, Laura.

    Reply
  7. Jessica

    March 06, 2018 at 2:12 pm

    Great post and a terrific example for parents everywhere.

    Reply
  8. Jenna

    March 04, 2018 at 7:15 pm

    Great post laura. Thanks for being open and sharing this with us.

    Reply
  9. Matt

    March 01, 2018 at 8:54 pm

    Great post, Laura. Thank you for sharing your parenting tips.

    Reply
  10. Sarah

    March 01, 2018 at 7:18 pm

    I am 14 and a reader of your blog with my mom for a few years now. I thought I’d leave you a message to say thanks for sharing how you talk to your kids. you seem like a really cool mom (I follow you on Instagram) and I know you have helped my family eat better. My mom talks to me all the time about things but I know it’s helpful for her to read this things.

    Reply
  11. Louise

    March 01, 2018 at 12:49 pm

    Thanks for this honest post about how to talk to our kids. I feel that people online either use humor to share subjects like this or they just avoid it completely. I’m all about people that know where they stand. They are upfront and share things as they are.

    Reply
  12. Anna

    March 01, 2018 at 11:54 am

    Very helpful.

    Reply
  13. Sue Ellen

    March 01, 2018 at 11:51 am

    I’ve been a blog reader of yours for 5 years and I always find your posts so helpful. My daughter is now 9 and this came at the right time to talk to her.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I'm Laura.
I inspire moms to live a healthy lifestyle while juggling their family and work with fresh recipes and practical advice.

More about me →

Let's Be Social!

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram YouTube
Download The Busy Mom's Guide to a Healthier Life

Fresh Favorites

  • Authentic New Orleans Chicken Gumbo
  • Fluffy Chocolate Chip Pancakes
  • 20+ Low Carb Lunch Ideas
  • Crispy Garlic Chicken Thighs

Trending Now

  • Teen Girl Gift Ideas for New Drivers
  • Paleo Chili Recipe | All Meat Veggie Chili
  • How to Roast Vegetables
  • Benefits of Intermittent Fasting for Women

Footer

^ back to top

Browse

  • Recipe Index
  • Weekly Meal Plan
  • Clean Eating Program

Download the Busy Mom's Guide to a Healthy Life

laura holding meal plan guide in front of prepped food

Useful Links

  • Contact
  • Permissions
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

COPYRIGHT © 2023 LAURA FUENTES · DESIGN BY FUENTES MEDIA