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Expert Q&A
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| By Mary Dailey Addictions Counselor | ||
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I think my daughter needs some tips in resisting peer pressure. What can I tell her?
Aside from the "if everyone jumped off the bridge, would you?" question, we need to think about the choices our children make. I suggest talking about "core values," i.e. what is truly important. What do you believe in that no one can change your mind about? What is so important to you that you would never waiver in your belief? That is a time to say, "I never want you to "smoke/drink/drive in a car with someone who has been drinking." You can give her examples of your thoughts and some of the choices you have made. It is important when talking about peer pressure to listen to your daughter's concerns and elicit her thoughts and opinions. Finally, the "just say no" response is not as helpful as letting your daughter try out some other responses that also mean no. "That's not for me," "I couldn't disappoint my mother," and "I promised my dad that I would wait" are viable options. Let her give you some answers that she thinks will work for her.
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