Should We Tell Our Teens About Our Wild Past?

Sober Awkward

Victoria Vanstone

Humour, Funny, Mummy, Life Hacks, Beer, Anxiety, Society & Culture, Health & Fitness, Party Animal, Relationships, Hungover, Comedy, Paretning, Hacks, Love, Parenting, Sobriety

4.8 • 533 Ratings

🗓️ 9 April 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In part two of our deep dive into communicating with teens, Hamish and Vic tackle the big question—should we tell them about our own messy drinking days? Will honesty help them make better choices, or will it just give them ideas?

We explore the pros and cons of sharing our past, the fear of hypocrisy, and how to approach these conversations in a way that actually connects rather than backfires. Is it possible to be open without glorifying our own wild years? And does telling the truth make us more relatable—or just more awkward?

Join us as we navigate the tricky balance of honesty, boundaries, and giving teens the tools to make their own informed decisions. Because when it comes to parenting and sobriety, there’s no rulebook—just a whole lot of trial, error, and awkward chats!

You can listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7uJ7HW0meaju2IzXBl6A1x?si=ae45f4c02d4241eb

Show Notes

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https://www.booktopia.com.au/a-thousand-wasted-sundays-victoria-vanstone/book/9780645757941.html

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Well, it seems we're both partial to a bit of fibbing, Hamish, some harmless, undramatic fabrications. But when it comes to the big stuff, why are we so scared about them knowing about our past actions?
0:23.3	What are you worried Sonny will find out about you?
0:26.1	Okay.
0:26.6	So I'm not too worried that there's any specific thing that Sonny will find out about my past.
0:31.7	But what I am worried about is the day that he realizes I'm just making it up.
0:37.1	Like the day I'm not, my parents, my dad used to make us call him,
0:41.3	Daddy, my hero and Mummy, my darling.
0:43.3	And like the day that Daddy, my hero dies is a day that I'm afraid of.
0:48.6	Because for me, that day still hasn't come for my dad.
0:51.2	My dad is still this, like, inhumane, perfect guy. To give you an example, we went out, I remember I was really young. This was such an important day, really young and mum was away. So dad was like, dad can't cook. He was like, hey, and furg, we're going out to fish and chips. Went to fish and chips and when they brought the bill they hadn't charged us for half the stuff
1:12.0	that we'd eaten so it was like half the price of what it should be any other human that I know
1:16.7	including myself 100 times out of 100 amazing we've got away with it pay and go yeah dad like called
1:23.2	the waiter over said look you actually have missed this, this and this, please take it back
1:27.7	and add it onto the bill.
1:28.6	Nice.
1:29.1	And then paid him.
1:29.5	I was like, I'll never do that. I will never be as good as that man is. Yeah, that's pure honesty. Yeah. But Sonny will figure me out quick and you'll go, okay, you're just bullshitting. That's the day that I fear. I don't think you're bullshitting, though.
1:43.4	Like, I don't think, I think you are your dad.
1:45.4	I think you're that person.
1:46.6	That's kind of you to say, but I do.
1:48.0	It feels like. That's the day that I fear. I don't think you're bullshitting, though. Like, I don't think I think you are your dad.
2:00.5	I think you're that person. That's kind of you to say. But it's always a day for a child when you realize your parents are human. I think parenting feels a lot like winging it, doesn't it? Yes. If we're honest, like parenting, you are winging it on a day-to-day basis. But your kids don't know that.
	...

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