Lets talk about our teenagers!

[luvmarypoppins]

Well ds18 is being "punished" by going to California with dh who is on a business trip. Thats right. Dh told me my punishments were not working and he was taking ds to have a talk with him, yeah 6 hours on Jet Blue, like that is going to work. Needless to say I am not happy with dh right now either. I told him if ds does not show any improvement when he comes back, I am giving him a big "I told you so lecture," Well his one teacher was nice and gave him a free yearbook to make up for the one that someone stole. Oh, his english teacher called and told him he had to make up a test today. I called the school and said he was in California with dh. I think this will affect his final quarter grade he said, not to mention another final another teacher is letting them do at home. Someone is suppose to pick it up for him, if not guess I will have to go and get it if its not too late. Oh the joy of boys!! Teenage boys!!!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Where do all your teens stand on drugs? Specifically weed? DD15 doesn't do that but many many of the kids she knows do. She's told me that pretty much "everybody" smokes pot. It's tough to decide who to allow her to hang out with. If they're a "known" user I'll say no but I know lots of the kids are doing it and I don't know....So anyway, any stories, or words of wisdom on this subject?

 

[DLR29]

Where do all your teens stand on drugs? Specifically weed? DD15 doesn't do that but many many of the kids she knows do. She's told me that pretty much "everybody" smokes pot. It's tough to decide who to allow her to hang out with. If they're a "known" user I'll say no but I know lots of the kids are doing it and I don't know....So anyway, any stories, or words of wisdom on this subject?

As a teenager who does not do pot and probably won't ever do pot I can say that I am surprised by the amount of kids I know who have tried or do it, but it certainly isn't everybody. If they are "known users" then it's probably not a good idea to hang around with them, but the majority of the "everybody" probably has tried it once or twice at a party. I wouldn't worry about her. If she doesn't do it, but has told you that "everybody" does it, then she probably trusts you and is responsible enough to make the right choice. Just from a fellow 15yo.

 

[babytrees]

Well ds18 is being "punished" by going to California with dh who is on a business trip. Thats right. Dh told me my punishments were not working and he was taking ds to have a talk with him, yeah 6 hours on Jet Blue, like that is going to work. Needless to say I am not happy with dh right now either. I told him if ds does not show any improvement when he comes back, I am giving him a big "I told you so lecture," Well his one teacher was nice and gave him a free yearbook to make up for the one that someone stole. Oh, his english teacher called and told him he had to make up a test today. I called the school and said he was in California with dh. I think this will affect his final quarter grade he said, not to mention another final another teacher is letting them do at home. Someone is suppose to pick it up for him, if not guess I will have to go and get it if its not too late. Oh the joy of boys!! Teenage boys!!!

and boys disguised as dads I think I'd be torqued if my husband decided to do that too.

Where do all your teens stand on drugs? Specifically weed? DD15 doesn't do that but many many of the kids she knows do. She's told me that pretty much "everybody" smokes pot. It's tough to decide who to allow her to hang out with. If they're a "known" user I'll say no but I know lots of the kids are doing it and I don't know....So anyway, any stories, or words of wisdom on this subject?

no words of wisdom....mine is such a goody two shoes (had to inherit it with 2 of them for parents) that I don't have to worry about her. Plus, she knows I know what it smells like ( I babysat for potsmokers...had a residual high) so she'd get in trouble that way. I have found you can't "not allow" her to hang out with people or she might rebel......ahhhh teenagers and the headaches they give

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Where do all your teens stand on drugs? Specifically weed? DD15 doesn't do that but many many of the kids she knows do. She's told me that pretty much "everybody" smokes pot. It's tough to decide who to allow her to hang out with. If they're a "known" user I'll say no but I know lots of the kids are doing it and I don't know....So anyway, any stories, or words of wisdom on this subject?

We have a zero tolerance in our house and I do know specifically one of the ds friends probably smokes pot. We have told him even if this boy has it on him, you will get blamed etc, so we encourage him strongly not to drive with this kid etc, be by him at a minimum. I think our ds already have the fear of God put into them because on the other street we had the wonderful SWAT team storm a house, have the helicopter flying overhead etc. A bus driver turned a mom in because her other 2 kids were growing it in the house and the little boy told the bus driver he was tired because he had to sleep on the floor and got kicked out of his bedroom. The mom claimed she worked 2 jobs and didnt know what was going on. I think they sent the boy to live with his dad and I think the other boys are in jail now. We also think our next door neighbor is selling it. I told the police and they said they would come and check on him, yeah right. Its been quiet over there now so he might have stopped. It was like people in and out, 2 minutes etc.

 

[Aardvarks]

My lads have been good so far.

Eldest 17 who now has a full time career has come home drunk twice. He has rescued drunken female friends and taken them for stomach pumping on a few occasions.

Youngest, 15, drinks occasionaly, I have no problems with that.

Neither lad has done narcotics nor has any desire

oh....and both lads know where the condom drawer is (prophylactics) and have been told that they are never counted

I love my lads, I love my Mrs, and I love my life.......and no...I dont love jesus

 

[PatsGirl]

Well, I think I may have harped too much on the alcohol thing cuz DS would rather toke than drink and it has drained him of ambition on more than one occasion I've found alcohol in his room after a few friends slept over to play WoW and left it on the kitchen counter for all to see. What was he thinking just leaving it on his dresser in plain sight When I confronted him, he said "didn't think you'd be going in their anytime soon" ~ guess my luck was with me that day. I poured it down the sink (nothing I'd touch or I would've just kept it for myself/company). He's 18 and I've never seen him drunk or smelled alcohol on his breath and until he moved out last month I was pretty much on top of things when he came home at night. When he started eating me out of house and home every late afternoon and then sleeping for a few hours, it clicked I'm not too worried because whatever he does it won't take priority over football or baseball and now he's been drug tested by the USAF. When I mentioned his "usage" the other day, he said he wasn't smoking anymore because he wanted to be in his best possible shape for BMT and try to get some type of honor award. Good for him ~ I hope he sticks with it, he leaves August 26th so his time for screwing up is limited

 

[jmms1224]

My 2 kids are 10 and 6, but I have a DSis that is 16 1/2. She has her 1st "real" boyfriend, and yesterday passed her driving test. Oh Lord my little sister is driving. She's a great kid and if anything having this boyfriend has made her a better person. He's such a great student that she has to keep up. He will not stand for anything less then perfect. With that being said... My parent are crazy. They are alone ALL the time. He come over when ever he wants. ALL DAY long while they are at work. Hello I had my son at 19, 16 is not that much younger. My parents don't seem concerned, but I stop by 3 sometimes 6 times a day. She never knows when I will show up.

 

[newholidayx2]

DS turned 16 in May
He's signed up for driving lessons at our town community center. $625!
thats our big expense this summer (well besides the $1000 I just put into our 2 cars)

 

[marciemi]

For those of you who followed my tent/camping saga. Here's a pic of how we did it this weekend. GF did camp in the tent herself, but we put it very close to the camper. I really think it was worse this way because since it was "her" tent, every chance he had, DS was in the tent. My rule was that the flaps had to be open (so I could see in). I went by once right after we got back from the waterpark and they weren't and I told them to open them and he said "But she's going to be changing soon so she wants them closed!" I'm like "Well, then why the heck are YOU in there?!"

Anyways, DS and his girlfriend, and the tent and camper in the background:

 

[babytrees]

good gracious they are a cute couple....glad it kinda worked out

 

[KelNottAt]

good gracious they are a cute couple....glad it kinda worked out

My thoughts exactly. Looks like they're having a great time.

 

[SadieDog]

For those of you who followed my tent/camping saga. Here's a pic of how we did it this weekend. GF did camp in the tent herself, but we put it very close to the camper. I really think it was worse this way because since it was "her" tent, every chance he had, DS was in the tent. My rule was that the flaps had to be open (so I could see in). I went by once right after we got back from the waterpark and they weren't and I told them to open them and he said "But she's going to be changing soon so she wants them closed!" I'm like "Well, then why the heck are YOU in there?!"

Anyways, DS and his girlfriend, and the tent and camper in the background:

Your camper is almost the same as my Viking. They are adorable. Glad it all worked out.

 

[SadieDog]

Regarding the pot question: My daughter does not smoke. She doesn't dare b/c she has asthma, however she knows many people that do. She does not care if people smoke on occasion, but doesn't like when people have to be high all the time. It turns her off. She has had a few drinks at parties. I preach never getting in the car with someone who is not sober. She has called for rides a couple of times when needed.

 

[mamacatnv]

Where do all your teens stand on drugs? Specifically weed? DD15 doesn't do that but many many of the kids she knows do. She's told me that pretty much "everybody" smokes pot. It's tough to decide who to allow her to hang out with. If they're a "known" user I'll say no but I know lots of the kids are doing it and I don't know....So anyway, any stories, or words of wisdom on this subject?

My DS has voiced his curiosity but Nevada is a zero tolerance state and he knows the potential consequences are not worth it. If it were something (pot) that he could do and have it out of his system overnight I think he would be more inclined to try it but since it stays with you for days and sometimes weeks he knows it is not worth the risk. I grew up in California when pot smoking was a pretty accepted thing, even on the high school campus where I went to school back in the dark ages. My opinions are pretty liberal, but the state I now live in does not agree and therefore since I am a law abiding citizen I have taught zero tolerance to my kids.

The kids are pretty savvy, they know who is using, who is drinking and who parties. He has no tolerance for the party crowd, it is just not his thing. With college and a dorm looming in about 7 weeks, we shall see...........

He does drink an occassional Smirnoff at home, which we allow and have allowed for the past year or so. He is 18 1/2.

 

[angwill]

I love reading this thread! I teach 11-18 year olds. 7th and 8th graders are the worst, but they're loveable deep down.

Amen!!! I used to work with jr high thru high school LD/BD teens and I totally agree the middle schoolers had the hardest time emotionally. Self centered and lost; caught between still being a child yet wanting to be trusted and respected as an adult who knows everything. Deep down they really are lovable and just want to be respected for who they are. I also have my own 13 y.o. going into 8th grade. I keep telling myself if I can just make it one more year things should start looking up. It was so much easier working with the kids 7 hours and saying goodbye at the end of the school day.

 

[TEENEE]

So we took our first official college campus tour last week. My ds is ready I am not. I know he is ready to fly but I'm not ready to push him out of the nest. We toured UCF in Orlando. He loved it. It seems like a perfect fit for him. He wants to go into engineering, ultimately ending up as an imagineer. He still has two more schools he wants to look at just to make himself feel comfortable about his decision to attend UCF, provided he is accepted.

Part of me is so excited for him and so proud to see how he beams when he talks about his future but the mom in me wants to keep him home forever.

 

[SadieDog]

So we took our first official college campus tour last week. My ds is ready I am not. I know he is ready to fly but I'm not ready to push him out of the nest. We toured UCF in Orlando. He loved it. It seems like a perfect fit for him. He wants to go into engineering, ultimately ending up as an imagineer. He still has two more schools he wants to look at just to make himself feel comfortable about his decision to attend UCF, provided he is accepted.

Part of me is so excited for him and so proud to see how he beams when he talks about his future but the mom in me wants to keep him home forever.

That's awsome.

My daughter is a HS senior this year. Hopefully she starts thinking more seriously about colleges soon. She has a few in mind. Now if only they don't laugh when they see her grades. Some are bad, some are good.

 

[mamacatnv]

So we took our first official college campus tour last week. My ds is ready I am not. I know he is ready to fly but I'm not ready to push him out of the nest. We toured UCF in Orlando. He loved it. It seems like a perfect fit for him. He wants to go into engineering, ultimately ending up as an imagineer. He still has two more schools he wants to look at just to make himself feel comfortable about his decision to attend UCF, provided he is accepted.

Part of me is so excited for him and so proud to see how he beams when he talks about his future but the mom in me wants to keep him home forever.

How exciting for your son. I can emphathise with your feelings. We did all the tours last fall and in 42 days DS moves into his dorm. Thankfully, he chose a school 15 minutes from home and the closer it gets he is glad he did. He has said over and over that he is glad he is not going too far away. As exciting as it is it is still scary for all parties involved. He was looking at Oregon State which would have involved either a 10 hour drive or a plane ride not to mention a much higher price tag and I held my breath and my tongue (he liked the campus, hated the food). Food was a big criteria for DS (he is a big boy). You want them to spread their wings and explore their opportunities and at the same time the Mom is not ready to let go.

Hang onto your seat and your wallet this next year will fly by and you will be shopping for dorm bedding before you know it!

 

[KelNottAt]

So we took our first official college campus tour last week. My ds is ready I am not. I know he is ready to fly but I'm not ready to push him out of the nest. We toured UCF in Orlando. He loved it. It seems like a perfect fit for him. He wants to go into engineering, ultimately ending up as an imagineer. He still has two more schools he wants to look at just to make himself feel comfortable about his decision to attend UCF, provided he is accepted.

Part of me is so excited for him and so proud to see how he beams when he talks about his future but the mom in me wants to keep him home forever.

How exciting! My DS is heading into 11th grade, so I guess we're a year behind you. Post often and keep us up to date. I need to learn a lot.