Are kids growing up to fast?

[katie_21]

Sounds like you are a wonderful parent Cynn. I just wanted to add a comment to your reply though.

You can teach your kids, you can talk to them till your blue in the face but they are still going to experiment, test their limits, it's just a natural curiousity.

I have an awesome Mother, she's always been there for me and she's always taught me right from wrong. I still went behind her back and did things though. Which is why I ended up pregnant at 16 years old. It wasn't her fault, she always warned me the dangers of having sex, she taught me that sex was for marriage. But I still wanted to do it, still did it...and came out pregnant. I DON'T REGRET IT lol.

Just pointing out that no matter how great a parent you are, once a kid becomes a teenager, they have to make their own mistakes. I'm sure you already knew that though!

[cynn]

Hi katie,

I totally agree with you. My friend caught her daughter (15) hiding her short skirts etc at another friends house and changing into them when she goes out ..

My point was that we can, only do so much as parents. Kids are small people with a mind of their own, and boy are they going to use it if they want to!

Me? I am the youngest of 5, and the only girl .. I brought more trouble/woe to my parents than my brothers did combined .. lol .. there was noooo way I would ever have listend to their wise words and adopt them as my own. Still, I survived, and turned out a pretty ok individual, even if I do say so myself .. lol

[Tojo]

Yes good points that no matter how much time you spend, kids can still go haywire.

However, to cite my own experience, my parents practically told me how often to breathe. They were so damn strict I just ran away. I started when I was about 2 years old, but didn't make it until I was 15. They kept bringing me back.

It's more than just being there- 'taking a true interest' as Anya said is a part of it. Being consistent, listening to questions instead of saying 'WHAT??'

No guarantees, but to me it gives a kid a better chance at least. I wouldn't know, my old man was a bully, a control freak & had no idea how to live in the real world. As for Mum- well never mind, this isn't about my parents....

(We're over all that, remember Tojo? All those support groups...now don't start talking to yourself again.)

Tojo

[Warbaby1943]

Just pointing out that no matter how great a parent you are, once a kid becomes a teenager, they have to make their own mistakes. I'm sure you already knew that though!

You can only hope that those mistakes aren't life shattering or affect the rest of their lives. That's where good upbring is the key. You hope and pray they make good choices.