Conversations: What to Say
What happens if you suspect your teen is planning to attend prom? What do you say to them? It is simple: Prom attendance is not allowed in your family.
The issue won't magically disappear
You will eventually reach a point where you cannot handle the problem anymore. That sinking feeling will haunt you during every waking minute (which will be all of the time since you won't be able to sleep well). You will have to acknowledge that your child has a problem.
Work with your spouse
Before you take action with your child, talk to your spouse and discuss what you will do. Avoid denying that there's a problem or pointing fingers at each other. You need to work together to confront the problem. Establish rules with consequences for breaking them.
Practice the conversation
With your spouse or another adult, practice what you will say. Discuss possible responses and how you will handle them. Teenagers are able to sense confidence; if you are weak, then they will know it. Practice speaking directly to the issue and not around it.
Suggested things to tell your son/daughter:
- You love him/her and are worried that he/she is going to attend prom;
- You know that prom seems like the popular thing to go to, but it can have serious consequences;
- It worries you to watch him/her go to prom;
- You are there to listen;
- This discussion will repeat many times. You cannot only talk once about prom.
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