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The First Rule of H.M.C - Don’t Talk About the H.M.C

What’s on Today’s Agenda:

🍔 Damn, That Looks Good

🧥 Varsity Jacket

🎧 New Song

 🍻 Talking with Your Teenagers About Drinking

🤣  Dad Joke

👀 Must-Watch Documentary

📆 Events

💪 He-Man Life Lessons

Damn, That Looks Good 🍤

@mayybelina

Shrimp Boil on the @Blackstone Griddles 😮‍💨🔥 YESSSS pleaseeeee! Boyfriends way; ingredient’s listed and seasonings shown in video. ****th... See more

Your Wardrobe: Get That Varsity Jacket

Back-to-school season hits different when you're grown.

You’re not chasing grades. You’re building a legacy. And the varsity jacket still fits.

Here’s why it works now:

• It bridges eras. Hip-hop edge meets Ivy League cool.

• It goes with anything. Hoodies. Button-ups. Sneakers. Boots.

• It nods to the past without living in it.

• It adds weight without trying too hard.

Vintage pieces are solid. But so are new drops from Levi’s, Gant, Stadium Goods, and Ralph Lauren.

Wear one because it looks sharp. Keep wearing it because it means something.

You’ve earned your letters. Even if you had to make them yourself.

Listen To This Song!

Talking with Your Teenagers About Drinking: 10 Thoughtful Approaches

Back-to-school season isn’t just about supplies and schedules. It’s a fresh start. A reminder to reset habits, expectations, and conversations—especially the ones that aren’t easy. For dads raising teens, one of the biggest topics to get ahead of is drinking.

Not because you want to control every decision your kid makes, but because you care enough to stay in the conversation. No lectures. No scare tactics. Just real talk.

Here are 10 practical, honest ways to talk with your teenager about alcohol:

1. Start with a real story. Skip the generic warnings. Instead, use something that happened. A news article. A local incident. A story from your past. Ask what they think about it. Let them respond without interruption.

This shifts the talk from a rule-setting session to a conversation. Teens are more likely to open up when they feel respected and heard. You’re not handing down judgment. You’re asking them to think it through with you.

2. Ask, don’t lecture. Teens are wired to challenge authority. That’s not rebellion. That’s development. When you hit them with commands or moral speeches, they tune out.

Instead, ask questions:

• "What do you think most teens your age drink?"

• "How would you handle it if your friends were drinking and you weren’t into it?"

• "What do you think the risks are?"

This gives them a chance to explore their own beliefs, which builds critical thinking and self-awareness, way more powerful than memorizing the rules.

3. Share your own experience. Be honest about your past. If you drank in high school, say so if you didn’t, explain why. Share a moment when you felt pressured. Or a time you regretted a decision. Or a time you made a good one.

Your teen doesn’t need a perfect parent. They need a real one. When you tell the truth, you show them it’s safe to do the same.

4. Talk before it’s a problem. Don’t wait for prom night or the first party. Start the conversation when things are calm. At dinner. In the car. On a walk. Make it casual. Make it normal.

The earlier you start, the easier it is to keep the conversation going as they get older. If drinking is treated like a taboo topic, they’ll look elsewhere for answers.

5. Set clear expectations. Don’t be vague. Let them know your stance. Whether you expect no underage drinking at all or have a specific plan in mind, be clear.

Clarity gives your teen something to lean on when they’re in a tough spot. It also builds trust. They may not agree with every rule, but they’ll respect your honesty if you communicate it well.

6. Cover real risks, not scare tactics. You don’t need to exaggerate. The facts are severe enough. Talk about:

• Drinking and driving

• Consent and alcohol

• Blackouts and binge drinking

• Legal consequences

• How alcohol affects the brain while it’s still developing

Use data if it helps. But keep it focused on what matters to them: safety, independence, and respect.

7. Offer an out. Make it easy for them to call or text you if they ever need help. No lectures. No punishment in the moment. Just safety first.

Example: "If you ever find yourself in a situation you don’t want to be in, I will pick you up. No questions asked. We can talk later. Your safety matters more than anything."

Having a plan like this takes the pressure off your teen. They know they’re not alone, even if they make a bad call.

8. Make it two-way. Ask them what they think is fair. What rules make sense? What consequences feel appropriate?

This doesn’t mean you give up your role as a parent. It means you bring them into the process. Teens who feel involved are more likely to follow through. They’re also more likely to come back and talk when things get hard.

9. Bring in friends or mentors. Sometimes your teen needs to hear it from someone else. That’s not a failure. That’s a smart strategy.

A coach. An uncle. A friend of yours who went through addiction or recovery. A mentor they look up to. Let them see different perspectives. Let them ask questions. Let them build their circle of support.

10. Keep the door open. This isn’t one talk. It’s a series. Keep checking in. Keep asking questions. Keep listening.

Some talks will be five minutes away by car. Others will stretch into the night. Some will feel like a waste of breath. Others will land hard.

The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is presence.

The more your teen sees you as steady, honest, and available, the more likely they are to talk when it matters.

A varsity jacket still fits. So does the role of a dad who shows up.

These talks won’t always go smoothly. But they matter. They build trust. They shape choices.

You don’t need to have the perfect words. You need to be willing to start the conversation and keep showing up.

Try Out This Dad Joke At Work

Why can’t a nose be 12 inches long? Because then it would be a foot. And that would be a really big nose to sneeze with!

👀 Must-Watch Documentary

A celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew", a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and Bing Crosby.

To learn more, visit IMDB.

Events 📆: REMINDER: 🍻 Real Talk. Cold Beer. No B.S. | Aug 7 Dad’s Beer Night

Sometimes you just need a cold one, a good story, and a crew that gets it.

Join the He-Man Club for our monthly Dad’s Beer Night—a laid-back gathering for dads who are doing their best, laughing through the chaos, and ready for real convo that doesn’t feel like homework.

📅 Thursday, August 7, 2025
🕗 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
📍 Farmington Brewing Company
33336 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI
☎️ (248) 957-9543

Expect craft beer, solid dudes, and maybe a few dad jokes that go too far—no name tags. No lectures. Just life.

👊 Show up. Unwind. Build your circle.

[RSVP Now] (or whatever link you'd use)

Never Forget: He-Man Life Lessons