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Important Parent Information Regarding Post-Prom Celebrations from our Student Assistance Counselor
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Below is important information every parent should know about the upcoming Prom season at SWMHS- a letter and some quick facts below.A Letter from your Student Assistance Counselor
Spring is upon us. The weather is warmer; flowers are blooming and with it brings the approach of proms and graduation. Our little ones are excited to be playing outside and our older children are busily planning for their special events. As parents, we enjoy seeing the excitement in our children’s eyes. This is the true joy of being a parent. No parent enjoys denying our children and it hurts when we have to disappoint them by saying ‘no.’ I remember those first few days as new parents when my wife and I made preparations to raise our new baby and protect her from getting hurt. We bought the best car seats, locked the cabinets and gated off the stairs. We covered the outlets and put two locks on the pool gate. We did everything in our power to protect her. She cried when I said, “No” and pouted when my wife told her, “Don’t touch.” Yes, we were in the joyous process of raising the new love of our lives – but we quickly realized that it wouldn’t be easy. As parents, our natural instinct is to protect our children. Sometimes it hurts when we have to make difficult decisions. With the advent of our proms and graduation, parents must once again prepare to make tough decisions—and to be hurt again. Believe it or not, just like when they were toddlers, parents still have the right to say ‘no’. No matter how old our children are, it is our duty to protect them. It is okay to tell a child that he is not allowed to go to the shore for the weekend after the prom or graduation. It is okay when they get mad at you. After all, it is not the first time they pouted when you told them ‘no.’ As prom weekends approach and graduation nears, your children will be asking you if they can go to Wildwood or Seaside for the weekend. They’ll promise not to drink or use drugs and they may keep their promise. However, there is a great temptation to engage in unhealthy behaviors. The accessibility of alcohol and drugs is overwhelming; that’s what makes Wildwood and Seaside so inviting to our children. Going down the shore after these events is not a “rite of passage.” It is an invitation for choices that we may regret one day. Many times decisions are based on the chances of something happening. Not this time. The risk far outweighs the reward. You will rebound from the hurt of telling your child ‘no’ and your child will recover. Reminiscing with a faded photo of your child cannot substitute for a lifetime of memories yet to come. You have one chance to protect your child. Once you rent a hotel or allow your child to stay at someone’s shore house, you lose the opportunity to keep your child safe. Prom and Graduation are two of the most important events of our children’s lives. I hope that their memories are positive and last a lifetime. In helping make these memories and events so special, I am asking you to think about the worst case scenario and ask yourself, “Am I willing to live with the fact that I had the opportunity to protect my son or daughter but I decided against it?” Please show your child that you care enough about their well being and safety that you are willing to disappoint them in order to protect them. Sincerely,
Joseph Schlaline Student Assistance Counselor
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