What would you do? Rotten teenager

twinmomplus2new

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Jan 27, 2004
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MY DD 17 came in about a half an hour ago, DRUNK!!!!Horribly drunk, no but slurring her words, and tipped kind of to the side when I talked to her. Now I understand kids this age do this stuff. But, She has had her new car for 3 days, because she totaled her old one. ( not drunk, slipping on ice) And she actually drove home after drinking. I took her keys.. T he car is gone. I will not give it back, Beyond that I don't know what else to do. i can not prove she is drunk.:mad:
 
:eek: I think I would have been thrown out of the house!!!! I KNOW I would have been grounded until I moved out of the house. My life would have been hell if I pulled something like that. No prom. No Grad Nite. No senior portraits. No boyfriend. No graduation party.

I would not give the car back -- EVER! She wants a car, she gets a job and buys one. Only, I don't even think I would let her do that! And ground her -- BIG time!

You understand kids this age do this stuff???? Do you understand that kids this age and adults DIE from doing this stuff??? Does SHE???
 
I agree, you really need to send the strong message. I would ground her from everything enjoyable. And the car would be gone indefinately. I know I would have gotten my as* handed to me on a plate for a stunt like this. You know she was drunk, it doesn't take a scientist to know that. That's one thing I feel very strongly about, drunken driving is nothing to play around with at any age.
 
When you say you can't prove she is drunk, what do you mean? Do you know for sure she has been drinking, but you can't prove if she has drank to intoxication? Do you/did you spell alcohol on her breath?

Here are my thoughts...

If you know for sure she had alcohol, I don't care how much she had, if she drove, she needs to lose that car of hers. If it's in her name, you have a right to take it from her until she's 18. If it's in your name, you can keep it from her until she shows that she is done with her alcohol experientation.

If you didn't smell alcohol on her, yet you could tell she was under the influence of something, you may want to find out of she's using some other kind of drug.

Try not to be too harsh, especially if this is the first time she's done it. The last thing you should be is the enemy. Obviously, you have to make a serious statement to her about how wrong it is to do what she is doing. But yelling and screaming NEVER stopped a child from engaging in this kind of behavior. I would wait until she sobers up to talk. Sit down with her and try to be civil...if you don't talk calmly, she will clam up. Ask her why she didn't call you to come get her. Tell her you would rather her call you than to drive drunk. That takes you both a step beyond the "were you drinking" question to which she can answer "no, of course not." Asking her why she didn't call you to come pick her up tells her that you know she was under the infludence, and that you are trying to get past the offense and get to safety issues - which I'm sure is at the heart of your concern.

If in your conversations with your daughter it comes out that she is doing this a lot, then I would suggest that you get her some help while you still can. If it's a minor problem still, meaning if she's only done this a couple of times, a good therapist may help her and you get to the bottom of this. If this is happening a lot, then she is still young enough and under your control - you can force her into rehabilitation and/or a 12 step meeting. If you're lucky and this is the first time, then perhaps a heart to heart talk will stop this. If she's only done it once, then it's not all that shocking. Right or wrong, most kids have tried alcohol before they graduate highschool. For most, it's a one or two time thing...simple curiosity. Odds are, that is the case with your daughter.

The most important reason for NOT yelling and screaming at her is because you need to convince her that if she were to go out and **** up again, that she can CALL YOU to come get her. She needs to know that if she drinks, she has the option of calling her mom or dad and that she won't get beat up, yelled at or lectured. Promise her that if she calls you under such circumstances, you will pick her up calmly, and you will wait until the next day to discuss the issue. This is SO important because no matter how mad you are, you want her to stay alive and you don't want her to get behind a wheel...hers or her friends...in an intoxicated state.

I sure wish you the best. My daughter is 12, and I'm dreading like crazy going through all this. Please don't judge your daughter harshly. Peer pressure is overwhelming for some kids. Getting drunk doesn't mean she's bad, and it doesn't mean you're losing her. If it was a one time mistake, take this chance to talk with her. Be careful not to lecture or pass judgement. She has to know you love her, that you understand why she did it, but that it was wrong, and you have to take action and punish her. The most important thing is that she has to know she can come to you if she is out with her friends and needs a safe trip home. If you earn her trust by being somewhat cool and calm about this, she won't take it as a free ticket to do what she wants - she'll take it that you are listening to her and trying to help her make good decisions without hating her or judging her. Of course, you don't hate her, but right now, she is tossing and turing in her sleep thinking that you do. I'm a firm believer that dealing with a crisis like this in a calm way will work in the parents favor...and the child's. She's not expecting you to be calm...you will FLOOR her if you are nice, and you may find that you have the best talk you've ever had with her.

Hang in there and the best of luck to you both!
 

I always told my sons that if I had any suspicions that they drove intoxicated, we'd be at the ER for a blood alcohol level ASAP.

In Pennsylvania, a parent can ask the State Police to pull their child's drivers license until age 18 -- powerful stuff! I always said that would be my first step.

Good luck!! I have two sons, ages 21 (today!!) and 18, and I'm always waiting to see what the next stunt will be!

Hugs,
Edie
 
Please do yourself a favor and your family and someone elses' family,do not give the car back for a certain amount of time ,so that she will really miss it,you would miss her if she was in jail and believe me if she had been caught she would have been put in jail(or you would,or you both would have depennding what state you live in)your car insurance would be over $5000.00 a yr ,not to mention court cost and record for life,and thats only if she is caught drinking and driving,if she had hurt someone you could loose your home and everything you have worked for ,not to mention your daughter and whoever she hurt!!You also must have known weather she was drunk or not ,do not second guess yourself.
 
Our Foster DD lied to us about something very upsetting and we told her ahead of time if we caught her in any lies the car would be sold. I sold the car 3 days later for 300.00 more then I paid.


Drinking and driving kills. Your DD is lucky she made it home safe and sound. I would sell the car ASAP. I would NOT give her a 2nd chance.
 
About a couple years ago my dd did something similar. She spent the night at a friends house and they went out with someone and got drunk. It's a long story I'll make short.
The judge put her on house arrest for a month, with 6 months probation.
House arrest, meaning no tv, no phone, no leaving the house for any reason except school and work. And he took away any chance of driving for the 6 months.

She made a lot of serious, possibly fatal decisions that night I'm just incredibly grateful she lived through it.
 
I know for a fact that the car would be gone for a good loooooooonnnnnngggg time.

i can not prove she is drunk.

You don't have to be able to prove it, she's a child and if you want to take the car away, that's all that matters. Second, you can prove it, you can take her to the hospital and have a blood test taken.
 
I'm assuming you have good reason to believe she was drinking. I know how teens are. Tomorrow, just because she denies it doesn't mean it didn't happen. I was a teen, I'm not stupid. So I tell my kids if I find out they did something like that I would assume it wasn't the first time. Because most kids know how to keep from getting caught most of the time. Find out if you can, if it's been going on for awhile. If so, then make sure she gets help.
If you have no way of knowing that then you'll be watching her for awhile.
I expect that most teens drink before they are 21. The main issue is the driving (not that drinking is ok) so like others, I would take the car. Before I gave it back there would be a way of proving herself in place. Be tough, and then be loving but tough. Of course you have the talks, I could have lost you, you could have hurt or killed somebody else - even one of your friends. Tell her that she is lucky, she got caught. That everybody makes mistakes, you are angry but you still love her. You can help her if she wants you to. Then supervise, supervise, supervise. If she goes somewhere, call. Always know what time things end, and make sure she his home right after, be the driver even if it's more work, etc.
My sons have kids on their sports teams who have been busted drinking. They are so young, and the amount of alcohol is huge. Kids have been taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning, and kids who should have are just lucky they woke up. I see the parents threaten and punish, hear the kids say never again, and then 2 weeks later it's like it never happened. Two of our sports teams nearly weren't allowed to go to the tri-state championships because of losing players for this. They got out on a technicality. The kids who almost blew it for everybody swore they wouldn't drink again, then 2 weeks later they were. The problem is very severe here. If my sons get thru college without losing one of these kids I will be surprised. And if it weren't for the drinking we're talking about A students, involved in school, parents who care, etc.
I tell my kids I might not like it if you drink, but I will pick you up any time anywhere no questions asked. But if you drive, or get in a car with somebody who is drinking you are toast.
 
I believe you might can get some kind of home breathalizer test thing. I'd keep her away from her friends as much as possible for awhile too.
 
First, I would like to second the notion that yelling and screaming won't accomplish anything, except to make her more intent on hiding her condition should this happen again.

When I was still in high school and at home, I had my own car, and the rule was NEVER drive after drinking, period. It didn't matter how late it was or how far from home I was, I knew that if I called and said I had been drinking, or if I was riding with someone that had been drinking, my grandfather would come and get me. No screaming, no guilt trips for waking them up and having him drive across town in the middle of the night. Their concern was that I get home safely.

My grandparents weren't as concerned with the drinking as they were with the idea of me driving after drinking, although they made it clear that if I was caught drinking underage, I'd sit in jail until they decided the mood had struck them to come pick me up.

But I know what would have happened had I been caught drinking and driving - the car would have been gone, period.
 
Perhaps you should call the police, school or someplace like MADD or SADD and see if they have any promotional videos about where drunk driving can lead. Maybe your teen can have to spend the day with a little child who lost their daddy to a drunk driver or something. Sounds like she is suffering from that invincibility complex and "it won't happen to me" syndrome that most teens (and even beyond) suffer. If shes' essentially a good kid, seeing that what she did could irreparably damage the life of a family much like hers might knock some sense into her.

Oh, and the car would have to be earned back, not until she has earned your trust.

Lisa
 
Time for tough love. My dd, now 27, and I signed a contract about not driving drunk. Or riding with a drunk driver. She could call anytime and I would come get her. Take the car away. Too big a chance for disaster. Get some video of 'accidents' while driving drunk. My dd's best friend's sister was killed in an accident in CT the eve of Thanksgiving this year. She was the only one killed. No seat belt. Everyone was devastated. But when the findings came back that all had been drinking, a lot, it was soooo much worse. Everyone accepts that accidents happen, but it's not an accident anymore when you're all drunk. Your dd just has to understand this. I realize that these kids think it always happens to someone else. Gonna live forever!! But, that's just not the way it happens. Best of luck to you and your family.
 
I have a DS who will be 17 in a few months...He's been really good up to this point, but we have always had an agreement with him.
Our agreement is if he ever decides to drink he's not to drive or to let anyone else drive him, he has to call me or his father, grandparent etc.. for a ride...that is doing the right thing, he will not get into trouble for drinking (it doesn't mean we won't talk to him about it though!).
You need to sit down and talk with your daughter and let her know your feelings on drinking at such a young age...I don't think it's acceptable,,future plans etc..
I always know where my son is ALL the time, how long he will be, who he is with etc... You have to ask. If she's hanging around with the wrong kids then she shouldn't be allowed to. College is right around the corner, she has to learn to be responsible NOW!
{HUGS} to you, I'm sorry you have to go through this, I'm sure there are many more parents here with more experience that have been through the same thing you are going through right now.
Let us know how you make out
 
I agree with Lisa F. I would take way the car keys and not give them back for a long time. There is no excuse to drink and drive. If I am driving I will not even have a sip of alcohol. However I do think your child needs educating seriously in the affects this can have.
 
Along with taking the keys to the car I would encourage you to find a substance abuse center or police department and let your daughter take a tour in a salvage yard to see what a bad accident can do to an automobile and its occupants.

Also, I am sure there are people in your community who have either experienced the horror of losing a loved one to drunk driving or they themselves have caused an accident while driving drunk. These people are usually more than willing to share their experiences. Let your daughter see what the consequences of drunk driving are. Let her experience the pain it causes others. Lecturing and grounding will not get the point across.
 
Gosh, what would I do?

Take away the keys. I would say she needs to come clean (start talking) and then I will determine for how long. It will depend on how well she follows my "community service".

I think then I would launch into the educate her on what will happen if she drinks (drugs) and drives or rides with someone who is drinking /drugging. An informative campaign.
Legal aspects, hospital patients, families of MADD.

My goal would be to get her to see the serious risk she is taking.
 















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