GOOD KIDS CAN MAKE BAD DECISIONS

Small Urban Centres Aren't Immune To Drug World Involving
Teens

CFB PETAWAWA The hardest part of being a parent is knowing sometimes
you have to let your kids make mistakes.

Tom Sidney, manager of prevention and public education of Operation Go
Home, told those gathered at the South Side Community Centre Thursday
that as hard as this can be, sometimes it is the only thing one can
do.

"Sixteen and 17 year olds who are acting out are like infants," he
said "They need to fall on their face."

Discussing one parent's problems with her teen daughter, who moved out
the moment she turned 16, Mr. Sidney said she is probably the same as
100 others out there; she'll come home when she is ready.

"The thing is, the street life, drugs and sex are the be all to
teenage life," he said.

Out there, they feel accepted by their peers, they aren't governed by
rules, they can party whenever they want and they get a kick out of
being noticed.

"This is going on in their head," Mr. Sidney continued. "It is a very
appealing life to teens."

It will often take a bad experience or a string of them to get these
kids to change their minds, but it has to be them making the decision.