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DEAR AMY: My husband likes his beer, wine and occasional mixed drink. My teenage daughter often will ask for a sip to taste it. I realize this is normal teen behavior, but there are times when he asks her first if she wants to try it, and this bothers me. I recently found out that he has given her wine coolers when I am not there. I don't know if she begs first or he just offers. Either way, it is not OK by me. She is 16, almost 17.
He thinks I am being uptight and too rigid.
I would like another opinion. -- Anxious Mom
DEAR MOM: Offering a child a couple of ounces of wine along with the family meal at the dinner table is one thing. Sneaking wine coolers to your daughter when Mom isn't home is quite another.
Your husband evidently doesn't respect your values or your authority as a parent. This is obvious because he is being sneaky -- and encouraging your daughter to be sneaky.
Enticing a teenager with alcohol is playing with fire. The statistics on binge drinking among teenagers show that this is a growing problem, and if parents don't educate their kids about alcohol, the next generation won't develop a healthy respect for this powerful and addictive drug.
You should put your foot down and remind your husband that his job is to be a father, not a frat boy.
DEAR AMY: I am a 15-year-old desperately looking for some advice. I go to school, get good grades and am involved in a lot of extra activities.
I baby-sat during the summer and have a savings account, so I have a decent amount of money. But I don't have a cell phone yet!
I recently got back from camp, and when we exchanged numbers, everyone exchanged their cell phone numbers, including "unlimited texting."
I came home and asked my mom and dad if I could get a cell phone, and I said I would pay for it. My mom responded rather nicely, saying we could add a line to their cell phones, but my dad blew up, saying that I don't need a cell phone and shouldn't have one.
I asked my mom once more about it and said I wanted to text on it, because my friends would be texting me. I told her I would pay for it. Then both my parents blew up again about that.
