Admitting your DWI to your parents if you are a teenager or college student can feel terrifying. You don’t necessarily have to tell them, but if you need financial or legal help, it might be necessary. It’s best to go in already having a plan in mind for how you’ll pay for your fines or legal fees. Show them that you are remorseful and accept that they might be disappointed. Finally, learn from your mistake and show them that this is something you’re taking seriously. Don’t let a DWI be the kind of mistake that you repeat. A DWI can be overwhelming and scary, and your parents probably will be pretty angry about it. But hopefully, in time, you can all move on and you can prove that you learned a lesson.
Admitting Your DWI to Your Parents: Fessing Up as a Teen or Young Adult
Do You Have To?
First of all, admitting your DWI to your parents is your decision. If you don’t want to tell them, then you can choose to do that. However, you might end up needing advice from them about navigating the legal system, or you might also need financial help. Additionally, they might notice if you no longer drive and ask questions. Plus, it can feel like a heavy weight on your shoulders if you are keeping a secret like that from them. While it’s painful at the moment, admitting your mistakes is often the best policy.
Making a Plan
If you’ve decided on admitting your DWI to your parents, go into it already with a plan in mind for how you’ll afford things. A DWI can be expensive. You might see a spike in your insurance rates, you’ll likely face a fine, not to mention legal fees. Plan to not get any financial help from your parents at all. Instead, look into things like payment plans, loans, or picking up a job to afford your ticket. If they do resign to helping you financially, make a concrete timeline for paying them back.
Showing Remorse
While admitting your DWI to your parents is probably not going to be a fun conversation no matter what, it can go more smoothly if you show genuine remorse. Don’t try to make excuses or blame others for your actions. Instead, take responsibility and admit that you made a very bad and dangerous judgment call. Let your parents know how much it means to you, and how you’ll be changing your behavior in the future as a result.
Learning From It
Finally, after admitting your DWI comes the most important step. Following through. If you’re telling your parents that you are changing your behavior, do it. Make a promise to yourself to never get behind the wheel intoxicated again. Getting one DWI can derail your plans. But getting more than one DWI can land you in jail or force you to lose your license. Not to mention the additional times that you are putting yourself and other innocent drivers on the road at risk. Learn from your mistake and let it be an important and life-changing lesson.
If you’re a teenager or young adult, getting a DWI can feel like the end of the world. It will take time and money, but you’ll be able to move forward and hopefully with a new-found appreciation for the dangers of driving under the influence. While you don’t necessarily have to tell anybody, admitting your DWI to your parents can take a weight of guilt off of your shoulders. Plus, they can help you navigate the legal process. Go into the conversation with a plan in mind for how you’ll afford the fines. Be remorseful and accept their punishment or reprimand without getting defensive. Finally, show them that you learned a lesson by changing your behavior. Some day, you will all move past this as long as you learn the lesson of the dangers of driving drunk.
