Community Voices

A Parent’s Perspective

As I begin the countdown to the first day of school, there are so many things I need to do. I am composing what seems to be a never-ending checklist of Open Houses, schedule change approvals, orthodontist appointments, sports physicals, hair appointments, and back to school shopping. The mental fatigue alone is enough to ask for just one more week of summer!  

I often reminisce on their first day of kindergarten. Will they make friends? Will they transition well from being in the comfort of home with Mommy (and Daddy when he gets home from work) to a full day in school without us? Not only did my children meet the challenge, they excelled!

It is funny how much my fears and concerns have shifted since that time. Aside from the usual hard knocks of middle school and high school, there has been an added layer of concern regarding peer pressure and choices. And as the mother of three teens, I am now tasked with creating awareness without being “the preachy parent.”  Because I recognize the communication style of my parents’ generation is not necessarily the best technique for today, my style has been to engage in simple, yet straightforward conversation with my children.  

The increasing accessibility of synthetic drugs, particularly in the form of candy and drinks being marketed directly to children is undeniable, which invokes anger, and most of all, fear, for me as a parent. The ease with which these products are obtained, combined with the potential for harm, is deeply concerning.

How did this happen? What measures are being put in place to reduce the likelihood of this turning into a childhood epidemic?
I’ve informed my kids that they should never eat food/drink from a friend because they do not know if it contains harmful addictive substances.

I feel lucky that my career has led me into a space that I can gain knowledge and share, not only with my children, but also my family and friends that are parents. Being an informed parent is critical as school aged children today have so many complex issues to navigate.

In closing, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed at times when I think of the potential for these substances to infiltrate our school system.
As parents, the challenge now extends beyond teaching our children to just say no to drugs, it requires us to equip them with the knowledge of what these substances may look like and how to identify them in everyday items.

The health and safety of my children will always be my top priority.  I will continue to arm them with as much knowledge and support as needed to ensure that they can enjoy their childhood without the fear of falling victim to these harmful substances.