1. What advice would you give today’s high schoolers?
Before I had kids I’m sure I had all kinds of grand ideas of how best to raise them and talk to them. I thought when I had kids I’d be able to foster a relationship that assured they could tell me anything. I would have told high schoolers back then to reach for the stars, don’t be afraid to dream big and follow their hearts! I am a mom to high schoolers now and my advice today is a little different:
1. Clean Your Room
2. Stop Arguing With Your Parents
3. Get A Job
4. Tell Your Parents Everything Especially When They Specifically Set Out To Foster A Relationship That Supports This Open DIALOG STOP LYING!!!!
Basic. Very basic, easy to follow advice. We don’t need to get crazy and with dreams and stars…just a job and good ol’ honesty is a lovely start for your adult life. The dreams can come when you can afford them.
John Holton says
Now you understand why your mother always said “just wait until you have kids of your own.” And don’t forget “Do your homework.”
madamdreamweaver says
Teens are busy figuring out how they’re not anything like the parents. And the lying seems inherent. My stepson was in Jr. high when he lived with us for about a year with us (13-14) and he repeatedly lied. One time he gave us some valid sounding reason for taking his skateboard to school (it was the 80’s when skating was BIG) and we okay it, then found out he and his skate buddies skipped school to go skate around the graveyard on that side of town. Then there was the time he said he was going to his friends house ( we lived on the Air Force base in Base housing) then the 2 of them snuck down to the Base movie theater which was within healthy walking distance in order to go see to goo see Robo Cop, which is R rated because it was a rating he wasn’t allowed to see. (I don’t know how they got in actually, being under 17). Then he told us when he got back, quite happily about it. (sigh) It was rough. He decided to go back and live Mom in the middle of the school year.
Patty says
They will trip, stumble and fall. Just as we did but we so want to help them avoid the rough spots that will be part of their growth and learning process.
We all, every single one of us, tested those waters and managed to get away with a lot growing up. Looking back, some of us are damn lucky to still be here! Of course, we don’t want to imagine our kids doing the same…but they will.
Hopefully, we’ve all helped to provide a strong foundation, moral and otherwise, and they will become responsible, productive adults.
Paula Kiger says
Number 4 winner winner chicken dinner. :-)