Comments on: Breaking all the parenting rules

By: A much needed vacation | Unexpected Bliss

A much needed vacation | Unexpected Bliss — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:23:42 +0000

[...] ok for me to say that being a teenager today is hard. I’ve posted many times about how hard having a teenager is for me, but it’s even harder for him to navigate through this time. There’s so much going on, [...]

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:20:39 +0000

I am a “mean” mom and I don’t even have a teenager yet! I don’t let me kids play their DS, Wii, computer, or watch TV all day. How mean!

By: Sheri

Sheri — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:21:24 +0000

Apparently we are doing a great job, because he is furious with us and doesn’t want to talk to us at all. He wanted to see a movie with a friend, just the two of them. We would have agreed to a matinee, but not the particular movie that they wanted to see. He says we’re treating him like a baby and hasn’t spoke to us all day. This wasn’t hard though, I’m not going to compromise what I know is the right thing to do, and this was an easy call.

Thanks for all the encouragement, I know I will continue to need it because this won’t get easier anytime soon.

By: Sue S.

Sue S. — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:53:39 +0000

Don’t worry about it,hon. I know I’m doing my job when my 15 year old teenage son is really mad at me and can’t stand being in the same room as I am. Oh well. I’m not here to be his friend. I’m here to protect him, even if all the kids are piling into one car and heading to the mall….

By: Fearless Mom

Fearless Mom — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:54:49 +0000

I’m mean because I limit Reader Rabbit time.

By: punkinmama

punkinmama — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:24:32 +0000

My son’s only 2, but I hope to be a mean mom like you! I know I won’t enjoy the phase of him not wanting to be seen with me in public, etc., but someday, hopefully, he’ll look back and realize how lucky he was to have a mom like me!

By: Maggie M

Maggie M — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:09:27 +0000

I was fortunate, my son was never a problem…well, he did do 1 or 2 things after graduating high school that scared the shit out of me, but all in all, as a teenager, he was a dream to raise. Cell phones, Ipods and texting weren’t even issues back then. I was not very strict but I was involved and kept a close eye on him and he knew it. His friends always came to our house to hang out and I liked them all. I know you want to just throw up right about now, but it’s true. It’s much harder raising kids today. There are too many distractions, gadgets galore and advertisers encouraging kids to break all the rules. I think you are doing the right things. There have to be rules. Kids need discipline and guidance, so keep up the good work. And, remember, you’ll get your revenge when he has his own kids! LOL!

maggie@mannwieler.com

By: Selene

Selene — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:20:12 +0000

Please don’t become your son’s friend. Stay in your role as parent. If more parents had the guts to say “no”, “do this”, “help out” and other such radical phrases, this world would have a more promising future.

I think you’re doing a great job!! And one day, he’ll think so, too.

By: Becky Grayson

Becky Grayson — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:53:26 +0000

I really wish I could say it gets easier but that doesn’t usually happen until their senior year. I will say our youngest was much easier through this stage but I think he saw all of the tears I cried because of our oldest and decided to have pity on me.

Stick to your guns but also let him know that no matter what he does you will always love him – maybe not his decisions or actions – but your love for him will never waiver.

Our oldest son is now a father of four. His youngest daughter will be his payback. She is full of spitfire and she is only 2 1/2 LOL. He has told me many times thank you for being as diligent as I was.

I won’t lie to you it really was the toughest years of my life. I said many prayers during that time. Hugs to you.

By: Sheri

Sheri — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:43:38 +0000

We only let him get a cell phone because he can pay for it himself with money he earns in the summer, and because when he went to band camp I wanted him to have a way to reach his friends if he got separated from them. But we made it clear that even though he pays for it, we technically still “own” the phone, and control it. He didn’t touch it for months but once school started the texting is out of control. I absolutely hate it, and I refuse to fight about it so when he didn’t stick to the rules, he lost it.

I’m the same way about talking the parents before he goes anywhere or the kids come here. I was willing to just make a phone call, but I think he finally decided that he didn’t really want to go to this particular party anyway. That is a non-negotiable rule though, so he better get used to it.