# Parents of young children: what do you worry about?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-young-children-what-do-you-worry-about/692570>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 7, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-young-children-what-do-you-worry-about/692570 "2014-07-07T20:06:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 12

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**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-of-young-children-what-do-you-worry-about/692570/12 "2014-07-07T22:12:51Z")

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Yeah, this is going to be weird, but here goes…

I didn’t worry about most of the stuff others worry about. I knew I was going to be a good dad, I didn’t worry about what activities she would participate in, if she was going to be healthy, whatever. The question that kept me awake at night (well, it didn’t keep me awake at night, but that’s how you phrased the question) was:

_If Sophia has to go through a career change at 45, what are the best things we can do **now** to prepare her?_

(Told you it was weird.)

I actually found an answer. We actually implemented (and are implementing) it. It’s actually working.

Now that’s she’s 12 going on 13, the big worries are the big three: drugs, alcohol, teen pregnancy. Not too worried about door #3, but doors #1 and 2 I do worry about - Sophia likes to have a good time. We’ve done the constant talking to her about these issues and she says “Dad, I’m not going to drink”, whereupon my response is “Yeah, it’s easy to tell your _Dad_ that when you’re _twelve_, but will you have the strength of character to tell your _best friend_ that when you’re _sixteen_?”

(Really, my biggest worry is Sophia’s mom. The first time our kid comes home with alcohol on her breath or red eyes or something, mom is going to _freak_. As in “we need to get that child into rehab and NOW” freak. I am _so_ not looking forward to this (and yes, I’ve discussed this scenario with Sophia as well.)

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