Dad gets a one letter text from son who was out with friends—he instantly knows something's wrong-teaser

Fulks is a teacher and youth ministry leader, and a recent session with teenagers recovering from addictions pushed him to share this "X-plan" with other parents. On his blog, he detailed how the plan works, and why it is so important. "Recently I asked these kids a simple question:  How many of you have found yourself in situations where things started happening that you weren’t comfortable with, but you stuck around, mainly because you felt like you didn’t have a way out?'" "They all raised their hands. Every single one of them." Fulks wanted to emphasize how important having  a "way out" can be to a child of this impressionable age. But his technique wasn't received without controversy. Some parents commented that this method might encourage dishonesty or encouraging avoidance. Fulks cautioned that tips and tricks shouldn't replace honest conversations and important talks with your children. "It actually presents an opportunity for you as a parent to teach your kids that they can be honest (something DID come up, and they DO have to leave), while learning that it’s okay to be guarded in what they reveal to others. They don’t owe anyone an explanation the next day, and if asked can give the honest answer, “It’s private and I don’t want to talk about it.” Boom! Another chance for a social skill life-lesson from Mom and Dad." After spending time with the recovering teenagers---who were in the program for 6 months, Fulks felt his message was more important than ever. "You never know when something so simple could be the difference between your kid laughing with you at the dinner table or spending six months in a recovery center … or (God forbid) something far worse."