Photos Courtesy of the South Padre Island CVB
'Spring Break' Advice for Parents
by Erica I. Pena-Vest
The most horrifying day of my life will be the day my sons ask if they can go on “Spring Break”. I’ve got 15 years or so to worry about that but it got me thinking – since I used to do PR for the nation’s most popular Spring Break destination, what advice can I offer parents whose kids are preparing to venture out on their own and run amok?
1)
Make sure your son/daughter is traveling with a group of friends. There is strength in numbers. Make sure those friends are friends you trust and know. It will help a little.
Make sure your son/daughter is traveling with a group of friends. There is strength in numbers. Make sure those friends are friends you trust and know. It will help a little. 2)Make sure you have cell phone numbers for everyone in the traveling party, phone number for the hotel, for the local City Hall, for the local Police Department and local fire department. Make sure to have an agreement with your son/daughter in advance that they will check in once a day by calling you. This isn’t because you're being an overprotective parent, but to make sure that your loved one is safe and accounted for.
Make sure you have cell phone numbers for everyone in the traveling party, phone number for the hotel, for the local City Hall, for the local Police Department and local fire department. Make sure to have an agreement with your son/daughter in advance that they will check in once a day by calling you. This isn’t because you're being an overprotective parent, but to make sure that your loved one is safe and accounted for.3)Don’t travel to Mexico. This is not the time. The US State Department, along with many Texas State Agencies and all branches of the military, have advised against it and so do I. If your child insists, have them Google “Mexico violence” and see how many visitors have died there in the past year. Just don’t do it. This isn’t the time to be traveling to Mexico.
Don’t travel to Mexico. This is not the time. The US State Department, along with many Texas State Agencies and all branches of the military, have advised against it and so do I. If your child insists, have them Google “Mexico violence” and see how many visitors have died there in the past year. Just don’t do it. This isn’t the time to be traveling to Mexico.4)Make sure that your teens understand that their actions have consequences. Many years back Spring Breakers in Texas were arrested for luring seagulls onto their balcony and then hitting them over the head until they died. They were arrested and charged a $500 fine for each bird they killed or to serve a week in jail for each bird. They killed 6 birds before being caught. Their parents had to fly to Texas to bail them out. Consequence I would explain prior to trip – “You get yourself in that kind of trouble son, you’re gonna do the time. I’ll miss you.” – but that’s just me. Please remind your teens that Spring Break is not a break from reality. Whatever they do there can follow them for life – i.e. Girls Gone Wild.
Make sure that your teens understand that their actions have consequences. Many years back Spring Breakers in Texas were arrested for luring seagulls onto their balcony and then hitting them over the head until they died. They were arrested and charged a $500 fine for each bird they killed or to serve a week in jail for each bird. They killed 6 birds before being caught. Their parents had to fly to Texas to bail them out. Consequence I would explain prior to trip – “You get yourself in that kind of trouble son, you’re gonna do the time. I’ll miss you.” – but that’s just me. Please remind your teens that Spring Break is not a break from reality. Whatever they do there can follow them for life – i.e. Girls Gone Wild. 5)Spring break shenanigans are traditional, understood, common and almost expected, but make sure your son/daughter knows limits. There is such a thing as too much partying, too much drinking, too much everything. You want them to have fun but also come home safe. Make sure they know that.
Spring break shenanigans are traditional, understood, common and almost expected, but make sure your son/daughter knows limits. There is such a thing as too much partying, too much drinking, too much everything. You want them to have fun but also come home safe. Make sure they know that.6)In a world where we are all connected online, it is common practice today for employers and college admission boards to “Google” their applicants to find their Facebook, My Space and Twitter accounts and judge the character of the applicants. Make sure your son/daughter know that if ‘racy or compromising’ photos appear of them on the web, it has the potential to destroy their future.
In a world where we are all connected online, it is common practice today for employers and college admission boards to “Google” their applicants to find their Facebook, My Space and Twitter accounts and judge the character of the applicants. Make sure your son/daughter know that if ‘racy or compromising’ photos appear of them on the web, it has the potential to destroy their future. As parents, don’t be naïve. If your older kids are headed to a ‘party’ destination there will be tomfoolery the likes you’ve never seen in your life. But, know your child. Know what they stand for, who they are, what kind of decisions you trust them to make and then trust that they will make the right decisions. It is possible to go to a popular Spring Break destination and not completely go crazy with partying. Just make sure your expectations are clear and that you keep in touch at least once a day with your son/daughter. The most important thing you can tell your ‘child’ as they plan to leave is that – “What happens at Spring Break, doesn’t stay in Spring Break”…even if they are headed to Vegas.
