The birds and the bees, getting a buzz and smoking a bowl. Not your usual dinner conversation. Most parents seem to talk about these subjects with their noses turned up, trying to shock teens out of any bad behaviors. Keeping these conversations to our friend groups may seem like an easy alternative, but friends don’t always give the best advice. Edina High School Social Worker Laura Livesay said that starting a conversation with parents “takes a lot of guts but can open the doors to a good relationship.”

Yes, talking to your parents about these topics can feel like one of the most uncomfortable situations at the time, but it can all pay off in the end because starting conversations now can make things a thousand times easier down the line.

A student who has discussed drinking with their parents would be more apt to call for a ride instead of driving home drunk to avoid a confrontation. By taking steps to create this open conversation teens don’t break down their relationship with their parents, but rather build trust. By having theses conversations parents and teens can avoid what Livesay described as the “dance of tip-toeing around certain topics.”