Dear Urban Diplomat: I spotted my under-aged son spotting me at a strip club
Dear Urban Diplomat, Last weekend, my buddies and I were at a strip club when my 17-year-old son and two of his friends walked in. We made eye contact for a split second before he beat it out of the place. Neither of us has brought it up since, but I feel a parental obligation to address his inappropriate extracurricular activities and confiscate whatever fake ID got him access to the place. Given that he caught me leering at strippers, though, I’m not sure I’m in a position to dictate morality. How should I speak to him? —So Busted, RIVERDALE
Your son is at his hormonal zenith, so you can’t blame him for trying to catch a little skin, especially since you were, too. But for the moment, don’t get sidetracked by trying to justify your presence at the club. Explain that what you were doing is legally permissible at your age, a fact that will re-establish the moral high ground so that you can discuss the fake ID. As for confiscating it, do so if you’re worried about underage drinking but not to preserve his innocence: if he has a computer, he’s probably seen wilder smut than he’ll ever find at a strip club.
Send your questions to the Urban Diplomat at urbandiplomat@torontolife.com
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