DEAR AMY: Our 25-year-old daughter was charged with a DUI over the weekend. She has never been through anything like this and is begging for our help.
Her dad and I believe that she needs to face the consequences of her choice to get in and drive her car when she’d had too much to drink.
What do you think we should do?
– Concerned Parents
DEAR CONCERNED: You can’t make this go away, nor should you try. So yes, of course she must face the consequences. Your daughter is extremely lucky if the only consequences are legal (and that she didn’t cause an injury – or worse – to an innocent party or herself).
In terms of “helping,” you could attend any court hearings with her, help her to find an attorney, and help her to locate the public bus stop or find alternate transportation if/when her license is suspended.
She should also pay the fine associated with this crime.
I hope the court also insists that she receive alcohol counseling. You definitely should insist upon it.
You should make sure that she understands how alarming, serious, potentially devastating and dangerous this choice was.
She might not view this as “help,” but it is.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at [email protected] or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
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