@hawkeye10,
I don't know of the russian roulette scenario...you may be correct. I feel like I'm talking a foregin language about drugs.
There is a great deal of pressure on young adolescents - from many backgrounds. They perhaps should know better... perhaps... for some, this wish to escape their lives, perhaps for some they are beyond the imagineable and "it couldn't happen" to them. As parents - or carers - you cannot choose their friends, and certainly cannot choose those who pretend to act as friends and are in fact "trying to draw the kids in". Many kids are vulnerable - many do not know better, many will do it once and never again... many will do it and continue to do so.... that is there choice. I cannot drill "anything " into my child's head - I can talk with him, I can try and help his learn from his actions and take responsibility for his actions. I cannot STOP him from making his choices. He's 5ft 11 and close to twice my weight, he does not live with me, but more importantly - most importantly - he, nor his friend, nor OG or PQ aren't bad-ass kid who needs judging - he will need guidance, now, and the rest of his life.
NO parent, IMO, can prevent their children from doing these things, not unless you lock up them in a cotton wool padded cell. Having sex, crossing the road without looking, not cleaning their teeth before bedtime...... Education - in a positively reinforced way - they need to get the same message from adults, they choose to listen to the advice of the far more expereienced and worldly wise peer who of course know better than any adult - in their opinion.
All you can do is try to guide them in a way that they make safe choices.
Judgement..... I won't get into judgement with you Hawkeye - or anyone else. Circumstances are different to every individual. Personal responsibility is just that - they own it.... actions,consequences. We hope they learn and learn well, the right way to make their life a safer place to live in.
I'm just talking to OG and PQ who post here and who I have grown to care about. My choice. Will back out now.
Shouldn't be posting anyhoooooooo... too late... not a great time to be thinking.
Just so OG and PQ know.... you are two lovely people, you question, you have good brains..... use them wisely. You have a lot to offer the world. xx