It’s easier when things remain unsaid, whether it is where to celebrate the next family holiday, or (not) dealing with a difficult neighbor. Ignoring a situation doesn’t make it go away and certainly doesn’t solve it.
The easy choice is not having the awkward conversation; unless it matters. An example is when your teenager is invited to a party.
Trust, but verify is a good rule when dealing with teens. Instruct your teen that they are to call you from the house phone when they get to a party. This way you can verify they are there. But you need to do one better; ask to speak to the parents.
Here comes the awkward part which goes something like this:
Hi this is Johnny’s mom. I just wanted to make sure that
A) He was invited
B) A parent was home
C) There would be no alcohol
Don’t be surprised if there is awkward silence or harsh reply. But that awkward conversation is much easier to take then the knock on your door at 2am letting you know your child is hurt or worse.
In this case, I would always opt for the awkward conversation. For those readers with younger children, spoiler alert – parenting teens is really hard, like nailing jello to a tree!
Best wishes,
Tina Nocera, Founder
