| Your child says . |
Your first response may be to blurt out |
A better response would be |
| Timmy has started smoking but his parents don’t know | I’m going to call Timmy’s mother. She has to be told and that’s all there is to it. | How do you feel about Timmy starting to smoke and his parents not knowing? |
| Pot can’t be all that bad for you because I’ve seen kids who use it and they’re fine. | It’ll be bad for them if they get caught and end up in trouble with the law. | I’d like to share with you some of the information I read about the effects of smoking marijuana over time. |
| You lived through the 70’s. Why don’t you let me live through my decade without your interference. | I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did. | Sharing my experiences and listening to yours are among the most important things I can do for you as a parent. |
| Nobody else has parents this strict. You’re still living in the Dark Ages. | One day you’ll be down on your knees thanking me. | How would you like me to be? What do you think would be most helpful to you? |
| How can you tell me not to smoke when you inhale two packs a day? Isn’t that awfully hypocritical? | Don’t you dare talk to your father like that. | I know I’m not providing you with a good example. I’d very much like to quit. |