It’s at the top of my most dreaded conversations that lurk along the pathway of this parental journey I’m taking – drugs. Sure my girls are young and it may be a few years but like any difficult topic, communication is key.
Not only do communication habits start at infancy, did you know that your child’s personality will play a significant factor in how he/she responds? That’s an entirely different topic and post.
The point is no matter what stage of parenthood you may be, drug pressure is most certainly on the horizon and it’s crucial to be prepared.
That’s why when Rosecrance, a not-for-profit organization and leading national provider of substance abuse treatment for teens, adults and families asked me to participate on a Twitter chat panel this week and share their new art exhibit called “In My Shoes,” the answer was yes!
“In My Shoes” is an art exhibit created to help parents understand teenagers’ points of view about the pressures they face and how they are confronted with the potential to use and abuse substances. Knowing how much my daughter loves art – it’s actually a really smart angle.
The exhibit will be featured at the Robert Crown Center for Health Education in Hinsdale, Illinois, during National Drug Facts Week, Jan. 26-Feb. 1. The exhibit will remain at the center through Feb. 6.
A community open house will be hosted this Saturday, January 31st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring activities, presentations and screenings to raise awareness about substance use and prevention.
Developed by teen patients at Rosecrance’s adolescent campus in Rockford, “In My Shoes” displays actual shoes that have been painted and decorated by teens to tell their stories about substance use. The shoe symbolizes their parents being able to see and take a walk in the child’s shoes to better understand what they have grown through.
The process of creating shoe art is a meaningful experience because each shoe is unique and tells a teen’s story about addiction, recovery, and most important, their hopes and dreams for the future.
The exhibit serves as a starting point for discussion about taking the important steps to prevent any level of substance use among teens once parents learn more about what it’s like to walk in a teen’s shoes. The exhibit has made several stops in and around Chicago and is traveling to cities throughout the Midwest.
Visit rosecrance.org/inmyshoes for more information. A parent’s guide for talking to teenagers about marijuana called “Teens and Weed: Still a Big Deal” is available at rosecrance.org/teens-weed.
This is sponsored post.
