thanks for the replies guys. And yeah.. my Avatar does rule

Anyway, yes. Parents. There are still the same 24 hrs in day as there were 50 years ago. How is time being divided? Is that extra overtime really needed? Do you HAVE to make those 3 phone calls? Does it REALLY take 2 hours to check your e-mail? Now I know parents need time to relax.. Lord my parents had 5 kids.. I understand... but they still always took the time to take care of us kids. I wasn't aloud to wear high heels (the littel ones) and real panty hose until I was 13... No makeup until I was 14 ( and just a litte) ... No 2 piece bathing suits until I was 15.. and then it was because I am so long that 1 pieces didn't fit properly. I was only aloud to wear the tank-top style 2 pieces. Not aloud to date until I was 18 or showed that I was ready for the responsabilities.. and then my parents and I would sit down and decide.

Now some might think this was/is strict.. really I just think it was my parents having an active involvment. When my family went to a wedding, party,etc... Every boy who wanted to dance with me knew who I was and went and asked my father first (he always said yes) ... my parents demanded respect and obedience.. yet I can hardly ever remember being punished...

Am I scarred? No... My parents were great. It wasn't June Cleaver's house.. yes there was yelling, fighting, money problems, etc... but they ALWAYS took the time to spend with us. My mom would sit at the pc with me we'd do things together.... they had access to all my e-mail accounts/IMs (except a hotmail one I hid.. hehe) until I was like 17 or 18.

Yes, sometimes it sucked.. But you know what? I don't have any stds, unwanted pregnancies, mental trauma, trouble in school, etc... I wholeheartedly believe this is because my parents took a TRUE interest in me.

P arents need to stop worrying about being "cool" and their kids friends... be a parent first.. the friendship will come.

And WHAT is the deal with parents letting their 15 yr olds get tattoos? Personally I don't think a child ( YES 15 IS A CHILD!) is ready to have something like that on their bodies. Did YOU know what you wanted at 15? I doubt it.

Yes there are rare cases .. some kids just are more "grown up" ... but I really do blame a lot of parents.... t.v. and video games are not babysitters.

Anya