Lesson on binge drinking

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2005
Lesson on binge drinking
4
Mon, 04-24-2006 - 9:24am

Well despite a few minor/major obstacles we had our lesson on binge drinking (see earlier post). The youth that were performing wanted to have this lesson in the sanctuary but we didn't realize that the children would be practicing in there at the same time. We felt it would be more somber and dramatic that way. Then we decided to do this in the youth lounge with our performers speaking off-stage so as to not distract their audience (it was very effective). We had a speaker lined up to speak first. He is the director of a local youth rehab facility and also a minister so we felt that he would have a lot of good stuff to present. Not sure what happened but he didn't show up. I had already done some prep work on a follow-up lesson so we did our performance then we had my follow-up lesson.

The senior highs that had parts did a very wonderful job in writing and speaking their parts. They put alot of emotion into their reading and it came across.

I was amazed at how open the youth were about this topic (especially with me - a mom and close friend to their parents). Our youth director and the college interns were very supportive in telling how they dealt with this. Our senior high kids were also very open. My DD surprised me the most. While she didn't talk about her b/f at all, she did talk about DH's alcoholism and the effect that it has had on our family and how it will effect her and her sister for the rest of their lives. This was the first time she had every openly talked about it in the youth group. Another one of the seniors (normally doesn't attend Sunday nights but came just to hear the speaker) talked about how her brother's drinking affected her. Our youth director did discuss DD's b/f (anonimously) getting lost and how concerned and frightened they all were.

After the lesson, several of the middle high kids thanked me for the lesson and told me they appreciated how much I cared about them. I personally left there feeling like we had accomplished something and made a difference. I'm not kidding myself though, I know some will still drink but maybe we postponed it for a while.

Just wanted to update you on this and I appreciate all your support. I had my doubts but I truly felt that something needed to be done.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Mon, 04-24-2006 - 11:06am

I'm glad it went well and was so well received. You just never know, this may be the one experience that makes these young people rethink just how 'cool' drinking is.

Julie

 

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2005
Tue, 04-25-2006 - 9:53am

I had a test on Monday that I didn't study alot for b/c I was busy with this but after the discussion we had Sunday night, I feel that it was worth it. It was definitely a good trade off. I'll just have to study harder for the next one that's all.

It was so amazing how open and honest some of the senior high kids were. Here lately they've just sat there and not really participated in our lessons. Our youth director is very much into teaching them about their faith, sin, etc. These are all very much needed but they tend to go over some of the youth's heads and the rest of them don't have any real concrete experiences to relate to so the discussions have been a little flat. It was great to see so much participation within the group. I think that is what excited me the most was seeing them involved and participating in a lesson - especially one that might actually save one of their lives one day. It was awesome!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Tue, 04-25-2006 - 12:09pm

These kids are truly blessed to have you involved in their lives. As is your entire church congregation!

Sometimes it is just one event, incident or experience that truly alters a person's perception on something and thus, changes it for them forever. For me, it was reading 'Go Ask Alice' as a young teen. I can't even begin to say what a huge impact that book had on me, only that it was a major influence in my decision to steer clear of drugs. I put a copy in my DD's Christmas stocking when she was in 8th grade. It impacted her in a similar manner and I hope those feelings and attitude stay with her for a long time.

Now that it's all over, did your DD ever talk to you about her feelings on the lesson or about how it related to her, bf and his drinking?

Julie

 

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2005
Tue, 04-25-2006 - 12:24pm

DD has not spoken with me about her feelings about b/f and his drinking. She tends to keep her feelings about him to herself. I think she's probably talking to the youth director and the interns about this when they get together. They have one or two nights a month just the high school seniors and the college group to hang out. No parents/adults are present at this so if she wanted to talk that would be when she would do it. I got the feeling from the youth director that she has talked to him some and I'm thankful that she has him to help her sort through this.

She did tell me that she doesn't want to drink on prom night now so I that's a start. She also talked a little bit in the group about her dad's alcoholism and its effect on our family. I had never shared that with the kids b/c I wasn't sure she was ready with them knowing it. She asked my permission first so she was thoughtful of me. I told DH she was going to do this. He wasn't real wild about it but pretty much told him that she needed to do this in an effort to continue to deal with the lasting impact of the decisions that he made. He basically didn't respond so I gave her to go ahead. I also feel that at least for her that's another step in the right direction.