As a kid, all you want to do is play with your toys, go to a friends house, ride four wheelers, and hug up close to mama. I’m a mama’s girl, and I hardly ever left her side. If I wanted to go to a friend’s house, I would go and call my mama around midnight to come get me because I didn’t want to be away from her.

But as we grow up, we start to see what the world is really about but doesn’t have to be.

Throughout my life, I never went to a party. Of course I went to the birthday parties and bonfires, but I NEVER went to a party that involved alcohol until I was a senior. I went to four parties. I had tried alcohol before but only a sip, but when I went to that party during my senior year, I actually tried it knowing what I was drinking. I was tempted to try it when I seen someone at that party that really made me want to forget the night even happened. My mom knew where I was because I asked if I could go. I wasn’t the daughter that lied about where I was going. If I was out past midnight, I told my mom where I was even if I got in trouble later for being there. The next party that I went to, I didn’t drink. I went and just had fun being there. The third party I went to, I did drink. And I was told it was about to get busted, so I called my mom. I explained to her that I had more than a sip, and I needed a ride. She always told me that if I was in that type of situation, to call her because she would rather get up past midnight than me drive and put myself and others in danger. I got home safe that night. The last party I went to was prom night. I drank trying to “fit in”. I called my mom once again when I heard it was getting busted, and luckily for me, I had someone there that took me home.

My mom isn’t a terrible person for letting me experience the party world for myself. Her exact words were, “It’s nothing special, and it can get you in trouble. If you want to see what it’s like, just know to call me if you think you’re in trouble.”

I came home crying and tired more than happy.

So to the party people that thinks it’s cool, it’s not.

1. It can lead to drama.

I wasn’t drunk at my first party, and I can remember what all happened. I sat there watching someone that was drunk call me the WORST names that I never thought they would call me. I watched several fights that night, and it made me want to go home.

2. It’s nothing but lies.

Teenagers lie to their parents about where they are just so they could come to the party. They tell their parents they are at a friends house when they are really at the party. They tell their parents they are staying with osmeone when they are actually staying at their girlfriend/boyfriends house. Trust me, I know several people that have done this. They just lie to get them out of trouble and the truth.

3. It can lead to an emergency/death.

When you drink and think you are okay enough to drive, you’re not. You are putting so many people in danger if you have been drinking and driving. Your parents would much rather want to know that you trust them enough to tell them that you had a few and need a ride than being scared to tell them and you get hurt.

4. Be safe. Not Sorry.

Understand that it’s okay to have fun. Don’t drink to forget, like I wanted to do but didn’t. I learned so much by being honest with my parents about where I was. I didn’t lie and tell them I didn’t drink because they were going to find out either way. Parents always find out.

I’ve made mistakes, but I learned from them. My mom let me learn that there is nothing special about parties. I learned that you can go and have fun, but you can’t be tempted to do something stupid just because you see someone and it hurts your feelings. You can be tempted to do something stupid just to forget. I’m blessed that I got to experience it, and I’m also blessed that I can trust my parents enough to let them know if I have done something stupid and not be scared if I get in trouble.

Yes, I was FCA Captain, and people heard that I drank at that party, I learned that someone is always watching. I also learned that I was just trying to fit in with everyone else not realizing that I can go to a party to hang out, not drink. I have accepted the mistake of drinking, and that was the first step to forgiving myself. I learned through living.