A CurlyStache Blog - LITE version This simple-text form of the blog post, "Tweens & Teens Using Drugs & Alcohol: WHY is Vital," lacks images and additional graphics. To view the original article with rich-text format, additional graphics, and/or images, please go to the link below: Tweens & Teens Using Drugs & Alcohol: WHY is Vital | CurlyStache Blog PRELUDE TO TWEENS & TEENS USING DRUGS & ALCOHOL: WHY IS VITAL: Suppose we can understand the reasons why our tweens and teens have the desire to get high, drunk, or anything else. If we can do that, we can begin to pull back the veil and peer into their mindset and what is causing them to be rebellious in doing what we've most likely preached against for their entire life. When and if we can accomplish this, we can nip the problem in the bud and potentially additional related issues. It's necessary to recognize, though, that every teen is different and unique in their own right, so there are no two identical situations as to why each tween or teen does drugs. This means you must really focus and pay attention to the littlest details to understand the why. MAIN ARTICLE Drugs are bad*. I am pretty sure if you are a parent, grandparent, guardian, or simply a sensible, caring human being with a tween or teenager in your life, you know this. There are thousands of blogs and websites out there that will tell you this, with hundreds of ways to prevent drug abuse and misuse while encouraging healthy decision-making. Although the CurlyStache stance is that we strongly agree with those statements, this article will not dwell on it. Instead, let's try to understand why tweens and teens make those decisions. How come they choose to continue down the rabbit hole even when (and especially when) they know it is wrong, unhealthy, and usually carries the potential of life-threatening risks. Remember, this article talks less about trying something for the first time. I have tailored this entry toward those who use drugs recreationally or worse. Nevertheless, understanding why tweens and teens begin down this road is half the battle and, critically, often gets overlooked. Suppose we can intimately understand their attraction to the drug or drugs and its appeal. In that case, we can empathize and understand their position, allowing us to custom-fit a regimen to help them. Additionally, it will enable us to see through to them on a deeper level, encouraging them to engage and reach out. Furthermore, by doing this, they become more comfortable confiding in you when asking for help and guidance in these tricky times. It is imperative to remember there are hundreds of reasons, even multiple reasons, why our teens do what they do, using or abusing drugs. Furthermore, each reasoning is usually just as complex as the tween or teen. Regardless, I have included the top 13 reasons why our tweens and teens continue to use or abuse drugs long after the experimentation phase: Family History (#13): There is a history of substance abuse within the biological family, causing a much stronger dependence on that particular drug and its effects physically and psychologically. Addiction (#12): The only reason they are continuing the quest down the wrong path is because they are sincerely hopelessly addicted and need a support system, in which case professional help is highly recommended. Personality (#11): Being impulsive or a risk-taker has always been in their nature. The Misconception (#10): The belief that to be themselves, they must be under the influence to allow their feelings and energy to flow naturally. Traumatic Events (#9): For example, being in a severe car accident, experiencing abuse, or witnessing a death. Drugs become an outlet to ease the pain or escape reality. Rebellion (#8): Tweens and teens are often rebellious; the rebellious reasons are just as complex as the young person more often. Communication is the best form of action in this situation. Undiagnosed health conditions (#7): Self-medicating undiagnosed mental or behavioral disorders such as depression, ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), or anxiety. Friends (#6): Some friends do each other's hair and paint nails, some throw a baseball, and others play video games. There are circles where doing drugs and enjoying each other's company high is what binds their friendship. Social Media (#5): Tweens and teens see others on various social media platforms using drug and alcohol paraphernalia, making teens believe it is socially acceptable. Culture and Society (#4): In mainstream entertainment, such as music, movies, TV shows, books, video games, etc., drug and alcohol use is glorified, making many tweens and teens think it is fun. Esteem Issues (#3): Therapeutic in making one feel better about themselves and social rejections. Boredom and Instant Gratification (#2): Tweens and Teens who crave socialism and excitement and who have trouble keeping occupied find comfort in filling that void with their drug of choice. Mindset (#1): To induce moods. For example, to alleviate everyday stress and relax, be focused and energized, be creative and open-minded, or laugh and feel outlandish. Remember, most of the time, there are multiple reasons. For example, little Peter, 13 years old, has been caught stealing his parent's beer and drinking it in the past. Since then, Mom and Dad started counting the cans and watching them closely to ensure Peter doesn't continue. A year later, Mom and Dad catch him again, realizing he is still stealing their beer, but only waiting until they are drunk and not paying close attention to the count anymore. He is clearly consuming by choice now, with the only reason he couldn't use is "out of curiosity." This is when it becomes necessary to start understanding his mindset, "this" being the second time getting caught, presuming the first time was for experimental or curiosity reasons. Nevertheless, since he was caught red-handed for the second time, his Mom and Dad must take a unique stance with distinctive action when talking with him. They must discipline Peter for breaking the rules and doing something illegal. Mom and Dad's attitude and demeanor become paramount at this point. How they come off will directly impact his reaction, how he responds, and potentially their relationship after the fact. Despite their disappointment and anger in Peter, Mom and Dad should remain as calm, relaxed, and collected as possible—even if they need to take a break and talk later. They mustn't fly off the handle, much like an authoritarian would. Conversely, completely blowing it off, becoming permissive or neglectful, is irresponsible and not good parenting either. Instead, Mom and Dad must be firm yet compassionate, remembering he is doing what makes him feel good too (parents are the same way—they just have the wisdom and "big-picture" understanding!). They must respect, listen without interruption, and be patient with their teen. The goal is to become more authoritative while being sensitive toward Peter's feelings and ensuring openness and presence for the teen. During their talk about drinking, they gave Peter the floor, allowing him to explain his actions with his own reasonings, without interruption or interjection. Although his parents disagreed with his explanation, and there was no excuse, it improved the chances of Peter returning the same respect after they attentively listened, allowing Peter to explain himself. Once Peter laid it all out for them and was given ample opportunity to say what he needed without anyone intervening, it was Mom and Dad's turn. Knowing they were getting the best version of Peter in a bad situation now, they began asking questions in hopes of understanding why he was still drinking. In this thought experiment, some of the questions (and answers) during their sit-down were: Why? —"It makes me feel weird. But good." But why alcohol and not something else? I'm thankful it wasn't drugs, though; I'm just curious. —"Drugs scare me, and both of you drink, so I thought it can't be as bad as weed or something like that." At your age, drinking is just as bad as drugs. Where did you see that drinking was cool? —"Well, none of my friends drink, I don't think, but stuff like that shows up on Insta and Twitter sometimes, sometimes Snapchat stories. But I promise, really, I don't have that stuff set as my interests/favorites or following or anything like that. It just shows up occasionally." How long has this been going on for? —"I dunno. Let's just say it isn't the first time... Sorry." Do you honestly plan on stopping? —"Yes and no. I would like to because it kind of seems stupid since I've drunk a few times, but I like the feeling, too." Do you feel this 'urge' to NEED to drink even if you want to do something else? —"No, I only stole a few beers when you stopped paying attention. Otherwise, I wouldn't have cared and just figured out a way to get them if I felt like I NEEDED it- like I do ice cream!" After asking the proper questions and trying to figure out why Peter was doing it, they found it was most likely 3-parts "boredom and instant gratification," 2-parts "social media," and 1-part "family history," with the father's side having a history of abuse. With this information, Mom and Dad, after talking about it and not rushing to judgment, found the best form of punishment was giving him 1 hour of Internet per day. The thought process was that they would allow Peter one chance to clean up his actions on his own before seeking professional help, with family history being put into question. Limited Internet would force him to budget his time for online homework and other "essential" online needs, leaving little time for social media since that was a key factor. While that example was pretty detailed and in-depth, knowing there is more to it is important, too. For instance, your tween or teen's body language plays a role, knowing when a lie is being told and knowing that perhaps only half the truth is being told. In addition, it is essential to keep a vigilant eye out afterward for changes—good or bad. A misnomer that you will often hear when it comes to drug or alcohol abuse is "watch for attitude or behavior issues." Why is that a misnomer? Isn't it true? Sure, 95% of the time, your tween or teen's attitude or behavior will have issues and worsen. However, in the case of an undiagnosed health condition, it could become the opposite, where the adverse or negative happens. For example, if your tween or teen started showing symptoms of what would become OCD if left untreated and then began smoking marijuana around the same time. While under the influence, their behavior or mindset may improve via, in essence, self-medicating. In contrast, if they abruptly stop, the symptoms of OCD would become far more prevalent, causing them to appear to be under the influence or dependent on a drug. An involved, caring parent who wants nothing but the best for their tween or teen must constantly, without rest, keep a sharp eye out on their teen's surroundings. Half the battle in most cases when raising teens today is understanding the why, not just how to deal with it. Your tween or teen will continue to grow, making their own decisions. Our primary job as parents, grandparents, guardians, or whatever the relationship is is to ensure we do the best we can for them and guide them down the straight and narrow so that they become successful in life one day. NOTES *While this article is designed with illegal drugs (for all ages) and alcohol for those under the legal age in mind, many aspects of this blog can pertain to issues regarding 18+ or 21+ age "drugs," such as smoking or vaping and prescription/OTC drugs.

A CurlyStache Blog - LITE version This simple-text form of the blog post, "Tweens & Teens: The Temptation & Seduction of Weed," lacks images and additional graphics. To view the original article with rich-text format, additional graphics, and/or images, please go to the link below: Tweens & Teens: The Temptation & Seduction of Weed | CurlyStache Blog PRELUDE TO TWEENS & TEENS: THE TEMPTATION & SEDUCTION OF WEED: Marijuana is typically the first "major" drug tweens¹ and teens² end up trying, and it can wreak havoc within a family. How dangerous is weed to them? How should parents handle a situation in which their tween or teen experiments with the drug for the first time? In this blog, we will break down everything you need to know, given a tricky situation like this. We will include reliable and essential dos and don'ts, ensuring you and your teen continue to build a strong relationship while guiding them down the right path. MAIN ARTICLE Weed, Cannabis, Mary Jane, skunk, dope, grass, ganja—whatever you want to call it, Marijuana use has been on the rise for all ages, especially with perceptible tweens and teens. It is one drug that has never had a recession in usage and continues to gain popularity and traction as it becomes legal in many states. So if weed is becoming legal more and more and so many people use it, it can't be that bad, so it would be OK if teens smoke it, even if only on a rare occasion, right? If you want me to be truthful and honest, keep reading; if not, please disregard this post and search other websites. The truth is each website will give you the answer that best suits the site's needs, speaking truth and facts, but only the ones that back the funder, grant, or investor's stance. CurlyStache Blogs is a project where profits come second. Thus, we offer only facts sprinkled with views from adults with decades of wisdom, perspective, and knowledge. Back to the question, is it OK for tweens or teens to smoke marijuana, even when supervised and on rare occasions? As I'm sure you half expected, the answer is simply and utterly NO. Two facts without going down a rabbit hole of every possible reason why you shouldn't allow teens to use (arguably) the lowest "major" drug on the totem pole: As I'm sure you've heard at one point, it is considered a gateway drug. This means that, over time, the human body will begin to build a tolerance to it. When this happens, your tween or teen will search desperately for that new high to make them feel how they did when they first began the habit. At that point, one of two things will happen: 1) they begin smoking excessively more to meet the feeling, or 2) the more logical choice is to experiment with harder, more harmful drugs. These two reasons alone make weed dangerous: the addiction to the feeling and trying to feel more of it. THC (the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) is suggested, but not proven, to have long-term issues in adults when used earlier in life with a developing brain, such as an increased risk of schizophrenia and cognitive impairments. It is a proven fact, though, that THC can stunt the maturation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the brain when used modestly or regularly. Dumbing it down (sort of) for the average human like myself, this is the part of the brain responsible for complex behaviors and decision-making. As THC is introduced to the prefrontal cortex while developing during their teen years, it will impede the ability to fully mature. Once they become a fully grown adult, the disruption from their younger years will alter how the PFC processes information permanently. End of story, right? Again, no. What happens if your tween or teen experiments with marijuana or is stuck in an awkward situation where peer pressure gets the best of them, and they take a hit? Game over, grounded for life, never to be let out of the house and hang with those friends again? I sure hope not. What about if your teen goes to a party every now and again, and at those parties, a joint gets passed around, and they take a puff and pass it? They are doing it more casually now; should we take action now, perhaps giving them a severe punishment? I still side with "not so fast." It all boils down to being a good parent who has instilled a good set of morals in their tween or teen; the younger you do it, the better. Do your tweens or teens know that drugs and marijuana are bad for you? I'm assuming they do. The next step, if they know this already, is to sit down with them at a young age, preferably around middle school (grade 6-8). Hence, at this age, they are old enough to clearly understand what you are talking about but not so old they've already experimented with it; it's up to you to figure out the optimal time. In most cases, when drugs become more readily available to your tween and talked up to be "cool" by some peers, not necessarily their friends. Talk with them and let them know your feelings about the situation. Let them know it is not acceptable to smoke weed (or any other drugs!) and go into detail that many times, what they are smoking isn't just weed. It could very well be laced without their knowledge, especially with the spike in fentanyl and other opioids nowadays. Furthermore, explain your reasons in vivid detail; if you feel comfortable, share past experiences or examples to help add credence to your stance. Show your real emotions, wear your heart on your sleeve, and express yourself and how worried you are for them as a parent and that you only want what's best even if they don't see it yet. If they do the eye-roll thing, feel free to elaborate further, stating that it doesn't even matter how you feel about the situation because it is illegal for them to do it at that age, regardless. Once your tween or teen understands your expectations and the dangers of drugs, set the ground rules with them. There are many ways to set the ground rules. The first method is simply telling them, "When the time comes, we will discuss it," and hope it never comes. The other option is to sit down with them right then and there and go over it. Explain, obviously, the goal is NOT to try marijuana, but IF they were to get caught up in a bad situation, that [this] would happen. Write it down on paper, save it on a Google document, text it to each other, whatever you choose. This way, when and if the time comes and your teen makes the poor choice to experiment and gets caught, you do not overreact and over-punish them. On the flip side, they cannot claim that the punishment doesn't fit the crime. Be sure, when going over the ground rules, that they have input on it as well; they will feel more respected and be more prone to respect your decision since they had a voice in it as well. Going back to the first ground rule option. Suppose that dreadful day happened and your tween or teen got caught smoking marijuana; what should you do now that the time has come? Against popular belief, the punishment should be 50%. What do I mean by this? Think of the punishment you would hand out to your teen for disobeying and smoking weed—I know it can be scary thinking about it. It makes you want to punish them to ensure they never want to repeat it, so it's probably a severe punishment. Whatever discipline you think of, it's most likely too harsh. Now, think of something half as tough as that punishment. That's what you want to shoot for. When you slice the consequence in half like that, you will want to explain to your tween or teen what you initially wanted to do for punishment but decided to [do half punishment] instead. I guarantee they will appreciate and respect it, knowing it could have been much worse. Furthermore, they will be likelier to learn from the mistake because they want to make you proud—and because you gave them a half-off pass. For example, say your teen, Johnny, wanted to spend the weekend at their friend's house because they were going to their lakehouse. A few days before the weekend getaway, they were hanging out after school, and he was spotted smoking a pipe by a reliable source. As infuriated and upset as you may be, instead of telling him he can't go with his friend for the weekend, which is your knee-jerk reaction, take a deep breath. Once calmed, sit Johnny down and respectfully talk with him, treating him like a man, not a child or a kid that you must scream at. Tell him his consequence, that he cannot go to the lakehouse for the whole weekend; instead, he can hang out for a few hours on whatever day works best, explaining that you initially wanted to forbid him from going at all. Crucially, once you have disciplined your tween or teen, and before ending the conversation, let them talk and explain themselves. When they are trying to talk, it's vital to listen without interruption. Granted, whatever they say will probably make no difference in how you feel about the situation or the punishment you give. It will, however, show you still respect them as a person and a young man/woman. Furthermore, it will show they can always come to you to talk or get advice regardless of age. Lastly, allowing them to voice their opinions and explain themselves freely and unimpeded will give you a sneak peek into their mindset on this touchy subject. Think of it as pulling back the veil of their emotions, passions, and desires, understanding what they were thinking and why. It may seem like I'm almost contradicting myself since I started this blog insisting that tweens and teens should not try or experiment with marijuana. Then I move into saying don't punish them so much if they do experiment with THC and marijuana. So which is it? As I said, this site will give you brutal honesty, advice, and insight based on research, decades of parenting, and cold, hard facts. The truth is your preteen(s) or teen(s) should not want to try marijuana; good old-fashioned parenting will cover that in conjunction with a heart-to-heart talk diving into details on the dangers of drugs and how you truly feel. Against popular opinion, the reason why we should not be as worried regarding (pure, unlaced) marijuana usage is because, like many foods, drugs, alcohol, medicines, vitamins, and chemicals, to harm the body and mind, it takes more than just one or two times. Bear in mind this article was written for those who need a handle on how to deal with teenagers experimenting with pure marijuana. Furthermore, you must remember that if your tween or teen has tried marijuana, the damage is already done; they have felt the effects of THC. At this point, it will do more good to empathize, understand, relate, and talk to them calmly and collectively rather than yelling and screaming. Lastly, at the very most, a unique way of looking at a bad situation: it will teach them the effects of THC at an early age. This will allow them to be better equipped to handle the effects when they are on their own in a world that is becoming more and more pro-marijuana and legalizing it at a record pace. On the contrary, suppose your tween or teen is doing more than just experimenting and has a real issue or dependency on THC or marijuana. It has begun affecting their daily lives, attitudes, and behaviors. In that case, they, unfortunately, are already hooked on the drug, and to properly handle a situation such as that, they are going to have to want to quit. In addition, they will also need a robust support system in place; we will cover this in detail in future blog articles. The bottom line is that there is no reason to go overboard if it happens once or twice. The fact of the matter is there has not been enough research done on the drug and teens despite an unsettling explosion of marijuana usage in teens, exceeding a 250% increase in use in the last 20 years. Nevertheless, that does not justify that pure marijuana is suitable for tweens and teens. In addition, I'd like to point out that children are EXCLUDED from this post; there have been proven adverse outcomes with marijuana and children. We should obviously never encourage marijuana or drugs to our family; however, when keeping an open mind, staying grounded to facts, and using some common sense, the stress factor of your tween or teen trying weed for the first or second time shouldn't be overwhelming. If they are raised with a good set of morals, ethics, and respect, and you have sat down and talked with them, there should be little to worry about. Trust your teen. You might be surprised. Should they get curious, or peer pressure gets the best of them, and they take a hit to see what the buzz is all about (pardon the pun), it's normal at that age. Humans are all curious beings, especially teens, while still testing the waters. Either way, if you do find out they tried marijuana, your stress levels should only be as high as if they skipped study hall in school, not much more; do not stress thinking, "What if they take advantage of me and continue despite consequences and sitdown talks?"—cross that bridge when the time comes. Now is NOT the time. I will be sure to follow up within a few blogs from now on the best ways and steps to deal with your tween or teen who is struggling with marijuana addiction and dependency. As for now, this blog is merely a guide for parents, guardians, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anybody else who cares for and has/interacts with teens and how to confront marijuana head-on. I hope this article helped or at least put some new perspective on an age-old topic. I'm leaving this post open for comments to let me know your opinion on the topic; there is no wrong answer—the only rule is respect. NOTES ¹ Tweens: In this article, tweens are defined as 10-12 years old; typically, tween age is considered to be 8-12 years. ² Teens: In this article, teens are defined as 12-19 years old, the standard age.

A CurlyStache Blog - LITE version This simple-text form of the blog post, "3 Priceless Tools to Prevent Costly Lifechanging Mistakes," lacks images and additional graphics. To view the original article with rich-text format, additional graphics, and/or images, please go to the link below: 3 Priceless Tools to Prevent Costly Lifechanging Mistakes | CurlyStache Blog PRELUDE TO THE 3 PRICELESS TOOLS TO PREVENT COSTLY LIFECHANGING MISTAKES There are hundreds of threats today, not just in cyberspace but everywhere you turn. It is vital to ensure we keep the privacy and protection of our loved ones, particularly our children and teens. For today, though, we will concentrate on online threats, what to look for, and what to do to ensure we protect our loved ones the best we can. INTRO This week's blog is a PSA for what we must do to protect ourselves regarding technology since the Internet, smartphones, computers, and tablets are undoubtedly an everyday use for our teens—whether it be for entertainment, communication, education, or work. Staying vigilant with your teens on simple security measures and talking with them could mean the difference between having their digital life ruined, emotions and state of mind uprooted and put in a tailspin, and being confident and mindful of the potential threat of prying eyes. #1 RULE TO EMBRACE Like the Internet: 2-way Communication To begin, sitting down and talking with your teens is crucial. The younger, the better; if they use the Internet in any way, they need to know the potential dangers and how to stay sharp, watchful, and attentive to their surroundings. It is critical to ensure they are careful in what they do and the information they put on the Internet; being careless, oblivious, or even simply taking the power of the Internet for granted could be costly. Furthermore, stalkers and predators are a real threat, with absolutely no way to know if the person on the other end of the screen is who they say they are. It is vital to ensure your young teen understands that unless they know the person in "real life," they do not know them at all, regardless of the online relationship and its duration. Explain to your teen that "online only" friends have the potential to do harm. These are the stalkers and predators waiting patiently for their prey (AKA, potentially your teen). These people are perhaps the most camouflaged, discreet, and devious individuals for their craft as they search for the victim's weakness and exploit it; the worst part is that there is no way of knowing. Many stalkers and predators, despite wanting the desired outcome quickly, play the long game for weeks, months, and years to ultimately earn their victim's trust, making it much more important to stay sharp and diligent. In addition, go over scams and online shopping. There are millions of scams and two terrific ways to weed them out. The first is to confirm the purchase or offer. Verify that it comes from a reputable company or vendor like Amazon. At the very least, it should come from a reputable sales platform like eBay. Additionally, it should ALWAYS have the padlock icon, typically in the address bar, indicating the site is secure. It is also a good sign when alternate, well-known payment options are accepted besides standard credit cards; PayPal is an excellent example of this. Secondly, and perhaps easier, if the item or service requires any type of payment, whether billed to your Apple account, your cellphone carrier, or ISP, or upfront via a credit card, simply have you, the parent, approve the purchase. It is highly recommended to do this because of the "read between the line" purchases. For example, your teen may find an ad for "FREE Ringtones!" and download it, not realizing there is an astronomical monthly fee associated with the download. Regardless, it then shows up on your credit card a month later. To assist with these situations, most devices, apps, and programs have preset settings allowing passwords or PINs to authorize purchases. In doing this, you are now ensuring that if anything happens, it is your responsibility, the mature adult, and not your teenager's. #2 RULE TO EMBRACE Protect the Physical Stuff! After the "Cyber Talk," it is just as imperative to have all physical hands-on devices secured with a password, PIN, or pattern. Biometrics are a good option, although they can be spoofed or inaccurate sometimes; needless to say, my teen has been able to use facial recognition to get into my phone because our appearances are very similar in the right light. Password (best): 75+ characters to choose from. The more characters and symbols, the better. The more frequently changed, the better. It is complicated to hack and has no "guesswork"; it is either correct—or not. PIN (good): 10 characters to choose from. The longer, the better. The more frequently changed, the better. It's easier to enter than passwords and is considered a good alternative. Pattern (fair): Connecting Points, usually 9-16 points. The more complex the pattern, the more difficult it is to crack. It is easier to enter than passwords and PINs and is suitable for swiping on touchscreens. Biometrics (not 100% reliable): Typically face or fingerprint recognition. It is easiest but not guaranteed, so the device requires a backup method. No protection (100% vulnerable): If any accounts or apps are active on that device, depending on the account authorization, it could be as little as ruining your high score to as damaging as fraud and stealing identities. #3 RULE TO EMBRACE Got Internet? Armor up! Sure, we can ensure nobody can hack into our devices with compliments of an excellent password or PIN, but what about all the data and information stored on the device? That's the thing about the Internet: it is a 2-way street as long as the device is connected to the Internet, regardless of how (i.e., hard cable, WiFi, cellular, or Bluetooth). Not only can you access whatever your heart desires, such as this blog article, but virtually anyone with the right skillset can access your device with or without the screen being on and unlocked. There are 4 primary classifications of malicious programs that you and your teen should be familiar with and why being diligent in the Internet safety department is so paramount: Malware: If it is malicious in any aspect, it is classified as malicious software, AKA Malware. Generally speaking, anything not classified as spyware, virus, or trojan horses (although they are also a form of malware). Spyware: A type of malware where malicious software allows a third party to take information off your computer without your consent or knowledge. Examples of spyware (malicious software) include AntiVirus 360, UltimateCleaner, and Windows Police Pro. Virus: Another type of malware, a piece of software or code that enters a device's operating system disguised as a program or app or attaches itself to a program or app upon its download. Its sole purpose is manipulating it into actions that damage or impede its performance. Trojan Horse: Programs or apps that appear harmless or helpful to the user, such as utilities. Once installed, the trojan horse creator, AKA the hacker, inserts malware into the operating system to achieve the hacker's desired purpose. Regardless of which type, it usually starts with the user downloading the malicious tools needed for the attacker to take control or acquire the targeted data without even realizing they did it. These downloaded, malicious codes often come in free apps or programs or from an unsecured and/or untrusted download source. In the 2-way street, this is considered the first direction, or the download, where malicious programs, viruses, and hackers download their code into the device. Typically, when a counterfeit or sketchy app or program is downloaded without safeguards, the code or virus attaches to it and gets to work on the device or waits dormant for instructions from its creator. After the malware is downloaded, on the other side of the street is upload, where the malicious program, virus, or hacker will return the personal information they seek back up to their server or computer. Once that happens and the files return to the server or computer, the successful hack of your teen's personal and private data concludes. Virus protection and device software and firmware updates are imperative to stay ahead of the game and prevent the successful closed loop of data theft from happening. For instance, the updates you see on your phone are for security updates and maintaining the most current security definitions. Think of it like an actual human virus; with vaccines and immunizations, the virus will begin to weaken but, in self-preservation, will mutate to survive and, if left unchecked, will begin to thrive again, making booster shots essential—and the same goes for cyber viruses. They frequently change appearance, looking more and more like legit code. When a new virus is found, the "legitimate programmers" update their programs and apps to ensure the new virus doesn't attack. Suppose the app, program, or even browser is not properly equipped with a bit of armor to avoid unwanted visitors—or you keep deciding not to update your phone or tablet. In that case, the potential is high for carnage to the device and to your personal and private data, which could lead to identity theft or worse. This is why protection on your devices is critical; it's like Internet password protection for your device! CONCLUSION No matter how you slice it, with the amount of technology we use daily, it is paramount to stay vigilant in keeping our privacy, well, private! You could literally save your teens' identity and emotional crises by ensuring they understand the importance and seriousness of the Internet. Even though the Internet is a place to educate, communicate, entertain, and get lost in its infinite possibilities, you and your teen will be just fine with a bit of understanding and protection.

Home Mashup Blogs CurlyStache Blogs Lite More More Raising Teens Today: Guiding Teenagers with Essential Parenting Dos and Don'ts Find us on Social! >>> You are Here: CurlyStache | Relativity Index Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | About Us Relativity Index At CurlyStache Blogs, there are many articles, blog posts, and information. How do you know if you are reading what you are looking for with age-appropriate information quickly and easily? For example, you are searching for ways to help your child who can't seem to make friends easily. These icons next to the post's title will help you understand without reading if it is for you and your child's age. Learn all of the icons by flipping through them! ◄ Previous Next ► "Tween to Teen Transition and Teens beyond 19" Description (see more below ): The blog post or article is the most relevant for teenagers and young adults; it may have material about the transition from tween to teen but is not strictly intended for tweens. Learn all of the icons by flipping through them! The icons are easy to understand without needing to flip back to this page every time as long as you know two things. First, the blog's relevance increases as you go up the graph (y-axis). Next, across the bottom (x-axis), the age group is identified from youngest to oldest . Anchor 2 19+ with ARROW pointing "older " indicates it could include young adults over 19 as well 19+ with ENDING "DOT" indicates the article is not for young adults and some 19-year-olds; the article/post is geared more toward high schoolers or younger. How relative a blog article or post is for specific age groups; the higher up the graph (y-axis) the more relevant ◄8-10 11-12 13-15 16-18 19+► Very Relevant Not Relevant Neutral Age Group (x-axis) High School Tweens Transitioning to Teens Middle School, Early High School Children / Early Tweens 8-10 years with ARROW pointing "younger " indicates it article could have relevance for children as well 8-10 years with a STARTING "DOT" indicates there is not much relevance for that age group and that the line graph begins closer to the 11-12 age Starting at the bottom left, going across the x-axis, you have tweens (8-12) occupying roughly the first 25%. After that comes younger teens (13-15), taking up the next 30% of the graph. Then, older teens (16-18), another 30%. Finally, 19-year-olds and young adults take up the last sliver of the graph to the right, with 15%. If you understand better when shown, we've got you covered with an illustration below . .. ...And for the ones who like to dive down the rabbit hole of technicalities and how it is all broken up, eat your heart out: Key points: Post High School / Young Adult Anchor 1 ▲ Back to Top Home Mashup Blogs CurlyStache Blogs Lite More More Find us on Social! >>> You are Here: CurlyStache | Relativity Index Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Contact Us CurlyStache Blogs: A division of CurlyStache, www.curlystache.com . | Raising Teens Today: Guiding Teenagers with Essential Parenting Dos and Don'ts Copyright notice: All images on this page, including all pages within the https://www.curlystache.com domain, are fully licensed or created for the sole purpose of this website. For additional information, please contact us at admin@curlystache.com

About Us Menu Bar Home Mashup Blogs CurlyStache Blogs Lite More More Raising Teens Today: Guiding Teenagers with Essential Parenting Dos and Don'ts Find us on Social! >>> You are Here: CurlyStache | About Us Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Contact Us About Us As a parent, guardian, grandparent, or whoever, sometimes an outstretched hand to give support and guidance is all that is needed when raising teens today. That is where we come in. Our core focus here at CurlyStache is to help adults with tweens and teens navigate the murky waters as they develop and mature into young adults. In a volatile society where nothing is certain, we pride ourselves on always being a click away to help and assist with tough questions and situations. Do you have a suggestion or topic you would like to see discussed or written about in an upcoming blog? Let us know, it's all for you! Suggest Topics Our Mission Our Story CurlyStache is a personal endeavor where we are not aiming to make profits, only to help those who need help and offer wisdom at the expense of time and money that could be spent on other efforts. The man behind the curtain is me, Dan Currie, known for his well-groomed, notorious curly mustache, or the infamous "CurlyStache." ​ The term "we" comprises my lovely wife Kelly, whom I've been with for over 20 years, and children Devan, Dylan, and Khloé, who were integral in starting it all. In addition, numerous friends, family members, and co-workers have all pitched in, offering their support, opinions, and, at times, their personal time and effort. I honestly could not have done any of this without their support. I would also like to recognize and thank Khloé, who has been at the forefront of social media on behalf of her dad, who still doesn't know how to use it completely! ​ A question I get asked frequently is why I do it. Why do I launch a website, write blogs, create the imagery, research the topics, collaborate, and pour countless hours into articles dedicated to other adults and parents raising children, tweens, and teens? The answer was simple for me; as far back as I could remember, I had an "itch," we'll call it, to help. ​ ​ Growing up, I was considered a rebellious teen who found comfort in music , friends, and situations that were less than ideal, coming from an authoritarian home . I hated feeling that my individuality was unwelcome unless it aligned with my family's affairs. Around that age, I became focused on, and eventually obsessed with, figuring out a way to ensure a robust set of morals while fostering a free spirit and encouraging individualism for my children. This is my journey enlightening people raising teens today and looking for answers as they walk the path of parenthood. ​ I have always enjoyed writing, researching, talking with other professionals, soaking up knowledge, and thinking outside the box. I love to think big and let my imagination run wild, allowing for my creativity to shine; in addition, I pride myself on being able to offer my services and help in times of need. With the help of my friends and family by my side and understanding my deep passion and personality, CurlyStache was born. This is our story. The CurlyStache story. Hello, World! March 18, 2023 Our Evolution Now that you know about us and WHY we are out to make a difference and help parents, grandparents, and anyone else who has older children, tweens, or teens in their lives—how it all began is just as intriguing. It all started with my (now not-so) little girl asking what a "blog" was. Needless to say, within 6 hours of that one innocent question, CurlyStache.com was born, and our endeavor had begun! Read the full story for all the details and spontaneous twists of events. ​ In less than a year, we have changed the site format a handful of times, looking for the perfect style where you can come and not be overwhelmed but find what you are looking for with just the right amount of flair and simplicity. The first 4 months had a lot of growing pains; we thank all the supporters who stuck with us as we were on our learning curve. We've got a handle on it now; how do you think we are doing? If you have a suggestion , let us know! ​ Beginning in the summer of 2023, it was clear to us that our site was a very studious or "serious" site, which wasn't a bad thing, but we wanted a fun vibe, too, where you could get more than just advice or opinions. I've always firmly believed that part of being a parent is being able to smile, laugh—and bring home lousy dad jokes to get your family to smile, too. Enter CurlyStache Funnies. If you want your daily smile or a bad joke to tell your child or teen, check out any of our social media pages and follow us. We post dad jokes and memes daily! Credit goes to Khloé, who runs this section entirely; the Funnies wouldn't be possible without her. ​ In addition to CurlyStache Funnies, we've pumped out dozens of full-length blogs and an additional blog section we call "CurlyStache Lite ." CurlyStache Lite was formed in September 2023, giving all our blogs a simple-text version and stripping away imagery and additional graphics. This section aims to consider the visually impaired audience and those who have a low-bandwidth connection, causing pages not to load as quickly or incompletely. ​ Our newest addition to the CurlyStache family is a brand new section we dubbed "The Mashup ." This launched at the beginning of October 2023. Our Mashup section is filled with shorter version blogs for quick reads that are more opinion-based but grounded in facts. Check out all that we have to offer under the Mashup tab found on the menu tab of all pages! Spring 2023 Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Our Vision Our vision is simple, like any great company should be. We want CurlyStache to become a site where you can come knowing you will find a vast library of knowledge, information, and advice. Additionally, when you visit us at www.curlystache.com or any of its pages, our goal is to watch you leave with more than what you came for. To ensure we meet and hopefully exceed this goal, we will be launching additional services and methods of delivering our messages, blogs, and distributing information. One way we plan to achieve this includes launching a new podcast discussing recent blogs and current events and how they impact parents and teens alike. In addition to a podcast, we hope to bring additional services to the table depending on budget and popularity. Truly, the sky is the limit; our vision has no limits. Related Contact Us Privacy Policy Cookies Policy

Home Mashup Blogs CurlyStache Blogs Lite More More Raising Teens Today: Guiding Teenagers with Essential Parenting Dos and Don'ts Find us on Social! >>> You are Here: CurlyStache | Privacy Policy Contact Us | Cookies Policy | About Us Privacy Policy: Last Upd ate d: 10/13 /2023 This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) explains the information collection, use, and sharing practices of CurlyStache & CurlyStache Blogs (“we,” “us,” and “our”). ​ Unless otherwise stated, this Policy describes and governs the information collection, use, and sharing practices of CurlyStache & CurlyStache Blogs with respect to your use of our website (https://www.curlystache.com) and the services (“Services”) we provide and/or host on our servers. ​ Before you use or submit any information through or in connection with the Services, please carefully review this Privacy Policy. Using any part of the Services, you understand that your information will be collected, used, and disclosed as this Privacy Policy outlines. ​ If you do not agree to this privacy policy, please do not use our Services. Our Principles CurlyStache & CurlyStache Blogs has designed this policy to be consistent with the following principles: ​ Privacy policies should be human-readable and easy to find. Data collection, storage, and processing should be simplified as much as possible to enhance security, ensure consistency, and make the practices easy for users to understand. Data practices should meet the reasonable expectations of users. Information We Collect We collect information in multiple ways, including (a) when you provide information directly to us, (b) when we passively collect information from you, such as from your browser or device, and (c) from third parties. ​1. I nformatio n You Provide Directly to Us We will collect any i nformation you provide to us. We may collect information from you in a variety of ways, such as when you: (a) create an online account (b) make a donation or purchase (c) contact us or provide feedback (d) subscribe to our newsletter (e) subscribe to any other form of notification This information may include but is not limited to your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, payment information, and your geographic location. ​2. Information that Is Automatically Collected Device/Usage Information We may automatically collect certain information about the computer or devices (including mobile devices or tablets) you use to access the Services. As described further below, we may collect and analyze (a) device information such as IP addresses, location information (by country and city), unique device identifiers, IMEI and TCP/IP address, browser types, browser language, operating system, mobile device carrier information, and (b) information related to how you interact with the Services, such as referring and exit web pages and URLs, platform type, the number of clicks, domain names, landing pages, pages and content viewed and the order of those pages, statistical information about the use of the Services, the amount of time spent on particular pages, the date and time you used the Services, the frequency of your use of the Services, error logs, and other similar information. As described further below, we may use third-party analytics providers and technologies, including cookies and similar tools, to assist in collecting this information. Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies We also collect data about your use of the Services through the use of Internet server logs and online tracking technologies, like cookies and/or tracking pixels. A web server log is a file where website activity is stored. A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your computer when you visit a website, that enables us to: (a) recognize your computer; (b) store your preferences and settings; (c) understand the web pages of the Services you have visited and the referral sites that have led you to our Services; (d) enhance your user experience by delivering content specific to your inferred interests; (e) perform searches and analytics; and (f) assist with security administrative functions. Tracking pixels (sometimes referred to as web beacons or clear GIFs) are tiny electronic tags with a unique identifier embedded in websites, online ads, and/or email, and that are designed to provide usage information like ad impressions or clicks, measure the popularity of the Services and associated advertising, and to access user cookies. We may also use tracking technologies in our license buttons and/or icons that you can embed on other sites/services to track the website addresses where they are embedded, gauge user interaction with them, and determine the number of unique viewers of them. If you receive emails from us (such as the CurlyStache newsletter, campaign updates, or other ongoing email communications from CurlyStache) we may use certain analytics tools, such as clear GIFs, to capture data such as whether you open our message. This includes but is not limited to, clicking on any links or banners our email contains or otherwise interact with what we send. This data allows us to gauge the effectiveness of our communications and marketing campaigns. We may also gather additional information through other methods as we adopt additional technologies. Please note that you can change your settings to notify you when a cookie is being set or updated or to block cookies altogether. Please consult the “Help” section of your browser for more information. Please note that by blocking any or all cookies, you may not have access to certain features or offerings of the Services. For more information about how we use cookies, please read our Cookie Policy . 3. Information from Third Parties To the extent permitted by law, we may also collect information from third parties, including public sources, social media platforms, and marketing and market research firms. Depending on the source, this information collected from third parties could include name, contact information, demographic information, information about an individual’s employer, information to verify identity or trustworthiness, and information for other fraud or safety protection purposes. How We Use Your Information We may use the information we collect from and about you to: Fulfill the purposes for which you provided it. Provide and improve the Services, including developing new features or servic es, taking steps to secure the Services, and for technical and customer support. Fundraise, accept donations, or process transactions. Send you information about your interaction or transactions with us, account alerts, or other communications, such as newsletters to which you have subscribed. Process and respond to your inquiries or request your feedback. Conduct analytics, research, and reporting to synthesize and derive insights from your use of our Services. Comply with the law and protect the safety, rights, property, or security of CurlyStache & CurlyStache Blogs, the Services, our users, and the general public; and Enforce our Terms of Use, including to investigate potential violations thereof. Please note that we may combine information that we collect from you and about you (including automatically collected information) with information we obtain about you from our aff iliates and/or non-affiliated third parties and use such combined information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. We may aggregate and/or de-identify information collected through the Services. We may use de-identified and/or aggregated data for any purpose, including, without limitations, for research and marketing purposes. When We Disclose Your Information We may disclose and/or share your information under the following circumstances: ​1. Providing Services Rendered We may disclose your information with third parties who perform services on our behalf, including, without limitation, event management, marketing, customer support, data storage, data analysis and processing, and legal services. ​ 2. Legal Compliance and Protection of Creative Commons and Others We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or on a good faith belief that such disclosure is permitted by this Privacy Policy or reasonably necessary or appropriate for any of the following reasons: (a) to comply with legal process; (b) to enforce or apply our Terms of Use and this Privacy Policy, or other contracts with you, including investigation of potential violations thereof; (c) enforce our Charter including the Code of Conduct and policies contained and incorporated therein, (d) to respond to you r requests for customer service; and/or (e) to protect the rights, property, or personal safety of CurlyStache & CurlyStache Blogs, our agents and affiliates, our users, and the public. This includes exchanging information with other companies and organizations for fraud protection, spam/malware prevention, and similar purposes. ​ 3. Business Transfers As we continue to develop our business, we may engage in certain business transactions, such as transferring or selling our assets. Your information may be disclosed in such transactions (including in contemplation of such transactions, e.g., due diligence). If any of our assets are sold or transferred to a third party, customer information (including your email address) would likely be one of the transferred business assets. 4. Affiliated Companies We may disclose your information with current or future affiliated companies. 5. Consent We may disclose your information to any third parties based on your consent. 6. Aggregate/De-identified Information We may disclose de-identified and/or aggregated data f or any purpose to third parties, including advertisers, promotional partners, and/or others. Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data Laws in some jurisdictions require companies to tell you about the legal grounds they rely on to use or disclose information that can be directly linked to or used to identify you. To the extent those laws apply, our legal grounds for processing such information are as follows: 1. To Honor Our Contractual Commitments to You Much of our information processing is to meet our contractual obligations to provide services to our users. 2. Legitimate Interests In many cases, we handle information on the ground that it furthers our legitimate interests in ways that are not overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the affected individuals, these include: ​ Customer service Marketing, advertising, and fundraising Protecting our users, personnel, and property Managing user accounts Organizing and running events and programs Analyzing and improving our business Managing legal issues We may also process information for the same legitimate interests of our users and business partners. 3. Legal Complia nce We may need to use and disclose information in certain ways to comply with our legal obligations. 4. Consent Where required by law, and in some other cases where legally permissible, we handle information based on consent. Where we handle your information based on consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent; in accordance with applicable law. Online Analytics Curlystache and CurlyStache Blogs utilize website analytic services such as TWIPLA. In accordance with TWIPLA, we have included a section of their Privacy Policy in quotes below and incorporated it into this Policy: "TWIPLA is a simple website analytics service that measures traffic on our website and collects general information from our website visitors. We create statistics to improve the experience of our website visitors. We never use cookies for this purpose. As a website operator using TWIPLA to conduct reach measurement, depending on the level of data protection we have activated, we may process information about the device you are using and its characteristics, information about technical characteristics of the website visit, the number of page visits and statistically relevant behavior of our website visitors. The technology does not use the collected data to identify individual visitors or to match the data with additional information about an individual user. Depending on the location from which you access our website, TWIPLA may not collect any information about the device you are using due to our technical settings." In addition to TWIPLA, we may use other third-party web analytics services (such as Google Analytics) on our Services to collect and analyze the information discussed above and to engage in auditing, research, or reporting. The information (including your IP address) collected by var ious analytics technologies described in the “Co okies and Other Tracking Technologies ” section above will be disclosed to or collected directly by these service providers, who use the information to evaluate your use of the Services, including by noting the third-party website from which you arrive to our Site, analyzing usage trends, assisting with fraud prevention, and providing certain features to you. To prevent Google Analytics from using your information for analytics, you may install the official Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on . ​ ​ Your Choices and Data Subject Rights You have various rights with respect to the collection and use of your information through the Services. Those choices are as follows: 1. Email Unsubscribe You may unsubscribe from our marketing emails anytime by clicking on the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of each newsletter or email admin@curlystache.com with your request, including “Unsubscribe” in the email's subject. In addition, you may click here to unsubscribe. 2. Account Preferences If you have registered for an account with us through our Services, you can update your account information or adjust your email communications preferences by logging into your account and updating your settings. 3. EU Data Subject Rights I ndividuals in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) and other jurisdictions have certain legal rights (subject to applicable exceptions and limitations) to obtain confirmation of whether we hold certain information about them, to access such information, and to obtain its correction or deletion in appropriate circumstances. You may have the right to object to our handling of your information, restrict our processing of your information, and withdraw any consent you have provided. To exercise these rights, please email us at admin@curlystache.com , please include “EU Data Subject Rights” in the subject with the nature of your request to expedite your request. Alternatively, you have the right to go directly to the relevant supervisory or legal authority. However, we encourage you to contact us so that we may resolve your concerns directly as best and as promptly as we can. ​ ​ International Transfers As described above in the “ When We Disclose Your Information ” section, we may share your information with trusted service providers or business partners in countries other than your country of residence in accordance with applicable law. This means that some of your information may be processed in countries that may not offer the same level of protection as the privacy laws of your jurisdiction. You acknowledge any such transfer, storage, or use by providing us with your information. If we provide any information about you to any third-party information processors located outside of the EEA, we will take appropriate measures to ensure such companies protect your information adequately in accordance with this Privacy Policy and other data protection laws to govern the transfers of such data. Security Measures We have implemented technical, physical, and organizational security measures to protect against your information's loss, misuse, and/or alteration. These safeguards vary based on the sensitivity of the information we collect and store. However, we cannot and do not guarantee that these measures will prevent every unauthorized attempt to access, use, or disclose your information since, despite our efforts, no Internet and/or other electronic transmissions can be completely secure. Children The Services are intended for users over the age of 18 and are not directed at children under the age of 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal infor mation (as defined by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) from children under the age of 13 or personal data (as defined by the EU GDPR) from children under the age of 16, we will take reasonable steps to delete it as soon as practicable. Data Retention We retain the information we collect for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as long as we are legally required or permitted to do so. Information may persist in copies made for backup and business continuity purposes for additional time. Third-Party Links and Services T he Services may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., social media sites like Facebook and X, formerly Twitter), third-party plug-ins (e.g., the Facebook “like” button and X, formerly Twitter, “follow” button), and other services. If you choose to use these sites or features, you may disclose your information not just to those third parties but also to their users and the public more generally, depending on how their services function. CurlyStache & CurlyStache Blogs are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of third-party websites or services. The collection, use, and disclosure of your information will be subject to the privacy policies of the third-party websites or services and not this Privacy Policy. We encourage you to read the corresponding social media privacy policy and terms for additional information: ​ Facebook Instagram X (formerly Twitter) Pinterest Tiktok Reddit Changes to this Privacy Policy We will continue to evaluate this Privacy Policy as we update and expand our Services, and we may make changes to the Privacy Policy accordingly. We will post any changes here and revise the date last updated above. Please check this page periodically for updates to stay informed on how we collect, use, and share your information. If we make material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will provide you with notice as required by law. Questions About this Privacy Policy If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, contact us at: admin@curlystache.com . Cookies & Tracking Technologies Disclose Your Information ▲ Back to Top Home Mashup Blogs CurlyStache Blogs Lite More More Find us on Social! >>> You are Here: CurlyStache | Privacy Policy Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Contact Us CurlyStache Blogs: A division of CurlyStache, www.curlystache.com . | Raising Teens Today: Guiding Teenagers with Essential Parenting Dos and Don'ts Copyright notice: All images on this page, including all pages within the https://www.curlystache.com domain, are fully licensed or created for the sole purpose of this website. For additional information, please contact us at admin@curlystache.com