[teensportychick]

I couldn't date alone with a guy until I was 16. My parents had to know him and his family and approve. Before that, I could go only with the church teens.

You have no idea how free you are. Their rules are basic but easy to follow and fair too.

Now I feel bad for saying my parents are strict...

[Wondergirl]

You have NO idea what strict means!! I'm still warped at age 66.

[teensportychick]

You have NO idea what strict means!!!! I'm still warped at age 66.

Haha! :) Ya I guess my parents are pretty chill:P

[Wondergirl]

My date would bring me home and we'd sit out in the driveway for a short time. My mom would come to the back door next to the driveway and flick the back porch light on and off as my signal to get my body into the house NOW! Our neighbor up the hill watched with binoculars and reported to my mom on Sunday mornings.

[Alty]

Now i feel bad for saying my parents are strict.....

I have to say, when I started reading your thread, and some of the responses you posted, I was going to rip you a new one. I'm glad I finished reading the thread before I responded. :)

Most parents are considered strict by their kids. When you're the kid you don't understand why they don't trust you more, or why they have to spoil all your fun.

When I was a teen I was a bad kid. Well, not horrible, but I did things I shouldn't have. I got lucky, I survived. Came close to being 6 feet under a few times though, but some of my friends weren't as lucky as I was. Most of them lived to regret it, but some didn't.

Now that I'm a mom, and the world is even more scary than it was when I was a teen, I set rules because I love my kids. It's not that I don't trust them. I do, but I also have to trust every kid they hang out with, and I know how hard it is to say no to your friends and then end up doing something that could change, or ruin your entire life. Like sneaking out. It's a small step, not a huge transgression compared to some of the things you could be doing, but, once you're out, it's a scary world out there, and so many things could happen.

I think that there has to be a balance. Let your kids experience life, but do have rules. You can't protect them from everything, but you can do your best to protect them from the worst. That's what your parents are doing.

Hey, it's only a 2 week grounding right? So, when you're no longer grounded, show them that you've learned something. Be on time when they let you go out, and show them that you have a good head on your shoulders, that you are learning, and that you can be trusted. Sneak out once, and get caught, it will take a lifetime to get their trust back again. It's really not worth it at all.

[teensportychick]

I have to say, when I started reading your thread, and some of the responses you posted, I was going to rip you a new one. I'm glad I finished reading the thread before I responded. :)

Most parents are considered strict by their kids. When you're the kid you don't understand why they don't trust you more, or why they have to spoil all your fun.

When I was a teen I was a bad kid. Well, not horrible, but I did things I shouldn't have. I got lucky, I survived. Came close to being 6 feet under a few times though, but some of my friends weren't as lucky as I was. Most of them lived to regret it, but some didn't.

Now that I'm a mom, and the world is even more scary than it was when I was a teen, I set rules because I love my kids. It's not that I don't trust them. I do, but I also have to trust every kid they hang out with, and I know how hard it is to say no to your friends and then end up doing something that could change, or ruin your entire life. Like sneaking out. It's a small step, not a huge transgression compared to some of the things you could be doing, but, once you're out, it's a scary world out there, and so many things could happen.

I think that there has to be a balance. Let your kids experience life, but do have rules. You can't protect them from everything, but you can do your best to protect them from the worst. That's what your parents are doing.

Hey, it's only a 2 week grounding right? So, when you're no longer grounded, show them that you've learned something. Be on time when they let you go out, and show them that you have a good head on your shoulders, that you are learning, and that you can be trusted. Sneak out once, and get caught, it will take a lifetime to get their trust back again. It's really not worth it at all.

Thx for not riping me a new one:P Haha! :) When I posted this I was talking about it with the boy and then I started thinking some of these same things... Thank you so much for telling me what you thought of it from a moms point of view it was very helpful and I don't want my mom to be scared of me getting into trouble:) Thank you soooo much! This is by far help most help I have ever gotten on this site! :) And you it is only two weeks I think ill make through:P Lol! :)

[Wondergirl]

My mom kept constant track of my comings and goings. She sighed with happiness when I didn't get pregnant until after I'd been married for four years. :)

[teensportychick]

My mom kept constant track of my comings and goings. She sighed with happiness when I didn't get pregnant until after I'd been married for four years. :)

Ya I am for sure waiting until I am married! :)

[Alty]

Thx for not riping me a new one:P Haha! :) When i posted this i was talking about it with the boy and then i started thinking some of these same things....Thank you so much for telling me what you thought of it from a moms pint of view it was very helpfull and i dont want me mom to be scared of me getting into trouble:) Thank you soooo muh this is by far hem most help i have ever gotten on this site! :) And ya it is only two weeks i think ill make through:P Lol! :)

You're more than welcome. I'm glad I could help.

I have a young teenager right now. So far he's not getting into any major problems, but once he really notices girls, I may have to put bars on his windows. His bedroom is way to easy to sneak out of, except for the squeaky gate and the fact that his father is a night owl.

The two weeks will fly by, then you can show your parents that you do understand why they have rules, and that you're mature enough to accept those rules, and abide by them.

One day you'll be making the rules for your own kids, and you'll remember how you feel right now, and you'll really understand why your parents were strict. I can tell you, when your child is 5 minutes late for curfew, to them it's just 5 minutes, for the parent it's 5 minutes of pure hell wondering why they're not home, could they be in trouble, could something have happened, are they safe? If you spend 5 minutes thinking the worst, that 5 minutes feels like hours. It's hell.

Our kids are our lives. Every time mine are out of my sight I worry, I wonder, I hope that they'll be okay. It's really hard to just let go and let them make their own mistakes, because you never know if one of those mistakes will the one that ruins their lives.

We just want the best for our kids. The very best. Of course we also have to realize and accept that we have to trust that we raised them well enough that they'll make the right choices, and stay safe. It's hard to do, but it's something every parent has to go through. You see, we have to learn too, we don't know everything.

You may have started this question wanting to sneak out, which would have been the wrong choice. But, you made the right choice in the end. If your parents could read this thread, they'd be proud. I am. :)

[teensportychick]

Haha! :) You seem like a great parent and my parents are too and now I see why they freaked out over 5 little minutes... My parents were actually giving me a lot of freedom and I broke some of there trust...

Thank you soooo much! :) I think my parents would maybe freak out a little if they read this:P Haha! :) But I think they would be proud to! :)

Thx again! :) SOOOOO much! :)

[ScottGem]

Or you could just not comment?

True, but then I wouldn't be helping you. You may not like what I have to say, but its valid and maybe it gets through to you (as I think it has along with other's comments).

[Curlyben]

This thread is now over.