July 29, 2009 Edition

Also in this issue...

Grandparents' Corner
Grandparents' Corner
Dylan Gilbert (front, from left), Katelyn Gilbert, Braelyn Gilbert; (back) Glen Clark, Cody Augustine and Shelby Clark are the grandchildren of Margo Augustine of Walnut Ridge.
Glen, Cody and Shelby are also the grandchildren of Pauline Clark of Norwalk, Ohio. They are the children of Bob and Tina Clark of Norwalk.
Dylan, Katelyn and Braelyn are also the grandchildren of Pete and Loretta Gilbert of Jonesboro. They are the children of Pete and Kimberly Gilbert of Hoxie.

A letter to parents

It's probably not just "going to come up," but a conversation about the risks of drug use has to occur between you and your teen. Since you are the parent, it begins with you. The good news is that with a little practice and a little preparation, you will find it's a conversation that not only gets easier and easier over time, but one that can also save lives.

Talk early and often. Kids are tempted to use alcohol, illicit drugs and intentionally misuse prescription drugs at much younger ages than you would like to believe. The key is to discuss and agree on boundaries like curfews and choice of friends before negative influences can grab hold. Also, monitor your teens' activities by checking in and checking up on them. If the rules and restrictions are put in place early, they will be easier to enforce later on.
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