Young and stupid

This blog is especially for teenagers. It is kind of advice for your future and how you have such a big effect on it. Your parents teach you so much and then when it is time, they let you out on your own. This way you can take what you learn and use it in any way you choose. Know all those times that your parents said something that you probably didn't agree or feel was right? Well you will learn very soon that most of what they say is right. They've been through the things us teens have been through, maybe even more. So they are the best ones to take advice from.
All teenagers are very hard headed, myself included. I know that my parents are only trying to teach me all the tools and things I will need to be successful in life. One example of that is when my parents always told me that acting stupid with your friends will get you no where but in trouble. I used to think that they were stupid for saying that. I mean I'm young, right? Well one time my friends were going out to do something really dumb, and in the back of my head I kept hearing my parent's words. I ended up not going and staying home. My friends may not have been happy about that but I know in my heart that I did the right thing and I knew my parents would be proud of me. That's all I really want in life is to make them proud.

too much or not enough?

How involved is too involved? When it comes to school parents have two choices. They can either choice to be completely involved or just not care at all. It usually just depends on the parents. For example, on Wife swap, these two parents were very protective over their child and even went to school with him everyday to check his desk and ask how he was doing. In my opinion that is WAY too much. On the other hand their are many examples of parents who exhibit no care at all towards towards their child's academic future. Sometimes these parents even let their kids just not go to school. Now that is not enough involvement for a child to succeed in.
When it really comes down to it, An "in between" approach is the best. Be involved enough to where you know what's going on and how you could help them do better. At the same time, give them their amount of independence. If you give them some freedom but still have rules when it comes to education, then that child will have a bright future without having to have a hand to hold. 

Sports

Parents view sports very differently. Some force their children to play, while others tend to not want them to. You just have to look at both sides to understand them both. Parents that want their children to play sports and make it their lives probably didn't have a sport they were that great at or they weren't allowed to play. Therefore they want their children to do it so they can't say that they did what their parents did to them. Now the parents that are against their children playing sports probably want them to focus on school or have the biggest fear of them getting hurt. Personally who could blame them? A lot of kids get injured or even killed playing a sport they love. Some parents may think that a sport isn't worth losing their child.
Personally I would want my child to play sports. Yes, there are disadvantages to playing a sport but there are more positive things to it. It  teaches someone how to work as a team, which is a major thing needed for a career. Another thing it teaches is discipline. They learn how to manage their time and be a hard worker on and off the field. Plus another major bonus to letting your kid play sports is the health aspect. More kids are overweight and have a lot of health problems that don't play sports than those who do. I'd much rather have a healthy fit son or daughter to be honest.

Moving on

    Parents and children do not always agree on the same issues. That is why arguement erupt and people end up being more mad than they should. One of those topics that is a cause of an arguement is the teen wanting to go off on their own and do their own thing. This usually happens when the teen gets to be about 15 or 16, for some it may be later. But at this time in thier lives, they want to be with friends and always be doing something. They find it to be their time to go out and live the young life. Parents don't see it like that most of the time. Any parent can relate to worrying sick about their child, especially when they are not home. My own mom even says that she always thinks of the worst things happening to me if I get home too late. Which is fully understandable from a parents point of view.
    Even though the ideas may differ on the going out sitution, there is a way to solve it without argueing. That way is sitting down and talking face to face about what would make both the parent and the teen happy. An example would be like talking to your parents about your curfew and what time they and you would feel fit perfectly. If all goes well, you should have a happy teen and almost worry free parents.

money

When it comes to growing up, teens and parents look at it differently. A part of growing up means paying bills. We all know parents have to deal with this stress but now a days, some teens are required by their paretns to help with the living cost and bills. This idea differs between which parent we're talking about. Some parents require their children to go out and get a job when they become old enough to. After they get that job, the teen is required to help with phone bill or whichever bill the parent makes them help with. On the other hand, we have the parents who don't want their teen going out and getting a job young or helping with bills. They may need that one extra pay check but they might feel like bad parents if they ask their child to help. I understand where they are coming from with that point.
Personally, my parents make me help. When I turned old enough to get a job and could drive by myself, I went out and got a job. Not becasue I had to but because I wanted to. With that job came responsiblity and that was to help pay the phone bill and car payment. Yeah, it's kind of hard living off little money because most of my check goes towards bills. But in reality, that is gonna be my life coming up and I have my parents to thank for preparing me for that.

college

Yesterday we were all sitting in the living room, and my parents started talking about something that is approaching fast. That being graduation and college. It's so crazy how it is right around the corner. But my mom bought up the idea of going to AU (Anderson University). Mainly becasue it is closer and I would be able to commute back and forth. This may seem like a good idea to my parents because I am their little girl and they want me to be close but I have other plans. Yes, I want to be close enough to my parents to where if I needed them, I know they'd be there. At the same time, I would like my own space away from them. I have lived with them all my life and it's most teenagers dream to go out and start fresh. The University i'd like to attend is an hour and forty-five mintues away. To me that is not bad at all. It's close enough to where going to visit wouldn't be an issue and my parents could get to me if I ever had an emergency. Yet, it is far enough to where they wouldn't be jsut driving down everyday to check on me.
I know I am not the only teen that is approaching college that goes through this. Some parents go through withdrawls without their children, which is understandable. But there does come a time when the parents need to let their little kid go out and do everything they have been taught. No they won't do everything perfect, but the only way for them to learn now without you holding their hand is to experience it.

Dating

The views on dating vary from parent to parent. Some are more open than others. For example, some parents do not mind their children starting to date young. This is probably because of how they were raised. Their parents may have been too strict or too loose. The things your parents do are based on that their parents did or didn't do. On the other hand you have those super strict parents. These kind of parents most likely make them wait till they are about 18 to date. The same thing I said before applies to this. 

In my opinion, there should be an in between for dating. There should be some rules but not too many. Ever seen teen mom? Yeah, well those are the parents of those who are letting their children go out and do whatever they want. Still there should be an amount of freedom. Parents should be open with their children and let them learn from experience, not apply a million rules. That's why teens break em. 

Snooping or helping?

Have you ever been just sitting there on your phone and your parents ask to see your phone? This has happened many times to so many teenagers. This is something teens view as an invasion of privacy. Well, there are two sides to this arguement. One is the parents view on it. They feel that if they pay for the phone and you live under their household, then they have all the right to go into your personal business. This can be good and bad. The other side to look at is the teenagers view on it. They feel it shows that the parent doesn't have any trust in them, and even though they aren't doing anything bad, they shouldn't have to show what they are doing.
I can relate to this first hand. My parents will all the time ask me to see my phone. Honestly, I have nothing to hide but its the fact that they want to search through it. It shows a complete lack of trust and when you do nothing to lose that trust, it is annoying. Many teens can relate to this story.

Curfews

      Now it's time for something that most parents tend to enforce and most teens tend to hate. That is curfews. Some parents have different ideas of curfew. You may know some teens who do not have one at all, and are allowed home at any time of the night. Then there are those who have super strict ones. Super strict in my opinion is like ten at night. But why do parents have different curfews? Well, it's simple. First thing to look at is the amount of trust the parent holds in the child. If the teen is one who acts out a lot and has done nothing good to earn a late curfew, then they most likely will have a strict one. On the other hand, if a teen has been very good and follows all the rules then they rightfully deserve a later one. Each child gets what they deserve.
      Looking at curfews in my eyes is different from my parents eyes. In my opinion, I am 18 years old and don't feel I need an early curfew. Mainly because I am technically an adult and any mistakes I make should be all on me. Plus I have put the work in to gain my parents trust. This is how many teens see it. But in my parents eyes the curfew is a good thing. They believe it gives me structure and doesn't allow to me be out and about all over the place. I don't mind the curfew though. In the end, even from a teens view, the curfew is a good thing.

Punishment

     We all know that parenting doesn't come with a book on what to do and what not to do. You have to go with it sometimes, the reason for this being that all kids are different. You have the quiet kids, the loud kids, the athletic kids, the gamer kids, and even the completly anitsocial kids. All of these different types require a different kind of parenting.
     Every reaction has a consequence and the action they committed usually tells what kind of punishment they will recieve. One example of a fitting punishment is taking a sport away from an athletic child. It may hurt them, but if what they did was bad enough, then this will shape them up real quick.

Introduction

Hello children and parents. You may think that I can't relate to parents and things that go with being one, but I do have advice that will help both parents understand their children and children understand their parents. We all know communication is key to a good relationship in a family, but parent and teenage talk are like two different languages. My goal of creating this blog is to be the in between for parents and teens. Everyone will get something out of this blog and I can't wait to help all of you guys.

Things I will cover:

• Rules (how children and parents feel)

• How to communicate the right and wrong way

• When to ask or bring up something at the right time

• Curfews

• Dating

• How to handle an arguement

• Growing up (How parents feel)

• Views on school/working

• And much more.