Growing Kids Against Drugs Issue #2.1
Michael J. (Mick) Meredith, Publisher
January 23, 2002: Focus
Dear,
Thank you for recently subscribing to our new e-zine to help parents ‘GROW’ their kids into Kids Against Drugs, or you may have been subscribed by a friend or family member. This newsletter is part of the Kids Against Drugs Campaign For Drug-Free Families. You have been subscribed and will receive it weekly or so. If for some reason you wish to unsubscribe you may do so at any time. Instructions to unsubscribe are at the end of this newsletter.
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A NOTE TO TEEN SUBSCRIBERS: This is a great newsletter for your parents and grandparents to have. Please forward this on to them.
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Weekly Thought:
“Throughout history when society is facing something that is shocking or naturally offensive, reaction generally follows this pattern, first we abhor, then we tolerate and lastly we embrace.” Such is the pattern of recreational drug abuse and all other forms of evil.
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As a follow-up to our last newsletter “Brownies” I’ve had a couple of experiences that led to the topic of this newsletter. It is interesting to me how we can learn so much from the little things that happen to us all of the time.
“Focus”
In the middle of December I had the opportunity to travel to Georgia to attend the wedding of my daughter. While at the reception I noticed a beautiful decorative antique plate loaded up with a wonderful display of freshly baked brownies. Having just written the brownies story a few days earlier and wanting to take a photograph of a plate of brownies for the web page featuring that story I immediately went for my camera to capture that “Kodak Subject” before someone came and actually ate some of those brownies.
Well, I suppose I should work to increase my skill as a photographer. When I arrived home and had the film developed I discovered those pictures turned out blurry. They were so bad that if I didn’t know what they were I wouldn’t have been able to identify them as brownies on a plate. They were badly out of focus and totally useless. I was destined to set the picture up and take it again. I made a few adjustments, tried several angles, was careful about the lighting and made sure I was in focus. I’m happy to report the next ones I took turned out so perfectly focused you could almost smell the brownies. The only sad thing about the photograph was I didn’t have the beautiful antique plate available to me.
As we go through life focusing does not come easily. There are many distractions all around us. I often marvel at the ability many mothers I have met have to be able to focus on a task or project with all of the activities that are constantly swirling around them. Mothers seem to have an added natural ability to handle all of this distraction and still stay focused to the task required of them. We should note this so called ‘multi-tasking’ ability increases with experience. Mothers get better at mothering and often report it gets easier too.
Talking to kids about recreational drugs and the other important issues of life is often a difficult task. A parent knows they must do this but when they attempt this they are often frustrated because they quickly find out the kids know more about drugs than they do. So several things happen all at once. First, the kids loose attention and become bored. Second, parents become frustrated and either give up or get upset. The third thing that happens is everyone just says we’ll do this some other time knowing full well that that probably won’t happen.
When parents use our Family Action Training Plan they have the advantage of having it all organized. The organization of these workshop materials helps keep focus when you hold your family discussions. Parents know what they say and how to say it. Information and resources are included parents can use to teach the whole family about the issues surrounding recreational drug use. Such issues as family values, family history, why families are important, who your friends should be, facts about the various drugs and why drugs hurt people. Through this process the family learns how to set up their home as a drug-free zone and many other fun and easy activities for them to enjoy together.
This unique long-term home workshop also helps you focus on the goal of turning your kids into kids against drugs making it a doable task. It helps the kids focus on learning about drugs and family and how using recreational drugs affects everyone around them. Holding regular ongoing activities and discussions with your family causes the ability to do this to increase and it becomes easier to do. Having these valuable tools at ones fingertips for review and to use over again gives a parent the ability to keep the goals and objectives in site at all times.
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“Family Action Training, Don’t Let Your Kids Leave Home Without It!” Michael Meredith says you can get your Family Action Training Workshop Materials handbook at our web site: http://www.kidsagainstdrugs.com
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I can assure you that the youthful friendly drug-pushers are firmly focused on the target of having your kids become one of their customers. Every thing they do all day is with the purpose of finding another young customer they can suck into their web of addiction. It means cash flow to them and profits, profits, profits. The power and effect of the movie industry, the TV sitcoms and the music industry being friendly to the drug culture helps dramatically.
The workers of evil go to great lengths to package and market their products so our kids will give them money. One of the most common and easy-to-use techniques the recreational drug dealers use on our children simply is to say “just try them, they won’t hurt you.” If that doesn’t work then they have many smooth arguments to win our kids over to trying the recreational drugs and they are masters at using the power of peer pressure.
A parent can counter with awesome power. Love at home, personal time, attention and understanding, guidelines and rules form a solid foundation for a youth to be able to take a stand on. Parents should use continuous subtle pressure, teaching power principles and the true facts about drugs. These provide valid reasons for kids to stay away from them. Activities encouraging family bonding and building up the pride of belonging to a great family are also powerful tools kids can use to turn away from the drug scene.
This type of family activity has been proven over and over again to be very effective and builds a strong family. When you have a loving home environment with guidelines and rules the children learn to trust your judgment. Of course it takes some preparation, some planning, timing and practice. It’s about families and it’s worth it. Kids love it.
How about you? Are you involved with your children to the point they would come to trust your judgment in matters such as attending an R-rated movie, or trying drugs? Or would they just do it anyway? Maybe you should re-evaluate your focus. Is your primary focus on you or is it on your family? Take a look, think and ponder.
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ATTENTION GRANDPARENTS: Special Alert! Grandparents NOW HAVE a new unique opportunity to help their grandchildren turn into Kids Against Drugs. Sponsor the ‘Kids Against Drugs Family Action Training Plan’ into your grandchild’s home and then go through the whole program with them. Check it out at the Kids Against Drugs web site at http://www.kidsagainstdrugs.com.
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In our free e-zine you will receive up-to-date information, tips and training about drugs and what they do. You will read real stories of those heroes who have overcome drug use and the tragic stories of the victims of various drug use and abuses and its lurid lifestyle. You will read of new programs and publications to help you learn and become aware of ways you can protect your family members. You will be notified of workshops available nationally, regionally, locally and on the Internet.
Of course we will archive all issues of our e-zine for future reference and study so if you have recently joined and missed a few issues soon you find them at: www.kidsagainstdrugs.com/newsletter_archives.htm
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Family Action Tip: Regular family council meetings are the best setting for you to discuss recreational drugs with your kids. Encourage all family members to participate and require everyone to be present at every family council meeting you hold.
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If you have suggestions or want to contribute articles and stories, please submit them to us by sending e-mail to: Click Here
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IMPORTANT NOTICE: In order for us to spread our message to the world we are doing a couple of things here. First we are asking you to forward this e-zine (don’t spam) to someone you know who you think would be interested in receiving it. With this issue we have 568 subscribers and if everyone sent it to ten others we would increase our mailing list very fast. Second we have our own affiliate program, which you can join.
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: We are currently scheduling workshops for the first quarter of 2002. If you would like to sponsor a workshop in your area please contact me and let’s talk. E-mail to me: Click Here subject: workshop?
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The following was passed on to me today and I thought I would include it here because there are some great insights and it shows how perspective changes with age. Something we all need to be aware of. Enjoy.
I've learned that I like my
teacher because she cries when we sing "Silent Night".
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 5
I've learned that our dog
doesn't want to eat my broccoli either.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 7
I've learned that when I wave
to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 9
I've learned that just when I
get my room the way I like it, Mom makes me clean it up again.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 12
I've learned that if you want
to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 14
I've learned that although
it's hard to admit it, I'm secretly glad my Parents are strict with me.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 15
I've learned that silent
company is often more healing than words of advice.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 24
I've learned that brushing my
child's hair is one of life's great pleasures.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 26
I've learned that wherever I
go, the world's worst drivers have followed me there.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 29
I've learned that if someone
says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 30
I've learned that there are
people who love you dearly but just don't know how to show it.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 42
I've learned that you can make
some one's day by simply sending them a little note.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 44
I've learned that the greater
a person's sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 46
I've learned that children and
grandparents are natural allies.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 47
I've learned that no matter
what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better
tomorrow.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 48
I've learned that singing
"Amazing Grace" can lift my spirits for hours.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 49
I've learned that motel
mattresses are better on the side away from the phone.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 50
I've learned that you can tell
a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost
luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 51
I've learned that keeping a
vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 52
I've learned that regardless
of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 53
I've learned that making a
living is not the same thing as making a life.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 58
I've learned that if you want
to do something positive for your children, work to improve your marriage.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 61
I've learned that life
sometimes gives you a second chance.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 62
I've learned that you
shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be
able to throw something back.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 64
I've learned that if you
pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, the needs
of others, your work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can,
happiness will find you.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 65
I've learned that whenever I
decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 66
I've learned that everyone can
use a prayer.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 72
I've learned that it pays to
believe in miracles. And to tell the truth, I've seen several.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 75
I've learned that even when I
have pains, I don't have to be one.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 82
I've learned that every day
you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch of holding
hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 90
I've learned that I still have
a lot to learn.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Age 92
I've learned that you should pass this on to someone you care about. Sometimes they just need a little something to make them smile.
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Will you join us in this exciting new grassroots movement to prevent drug abuse? Go to www.kidsagainstdrugs.com and sign up and purchase our Family Action Training Plan. Will you share it with your kids, your friends and family members? You will be helping others become aware of this valuable life-saving service for their family. You will belong literally to a huge group of families who want to be real families, working out real problems, everyday, one-day-at-a-time. What a powerful support group this is.
Thank you for subscribing and we welcome you. I promise I will use every tool and my total effort to make this e-zine a valuable and informative publication.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Meredith, Publisher.
America’s Drug Prevention Network, Inc.
My E-mail: Click Here
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