To the parents of teens...I am fed up with you!!

[hucifer]

well everyone please stop typing responses so fast. I had to go to lunch...imagine my lazy self had to walk all the way to the lunch room...I should have stayed at my desk.

I get back and now I cannot even keep up...geez...Maybe if I didn;t have a tv or nintendo in my room growing up I would have faster reading skills and not have this problem. This makes even more sense to me now and am so glad the OP has opened my eyes to this whole new world of parenting for me.

my DS: "Dad can I have a cell phone?"

me: Are you kidding? remember when I took your tv and dvd and video games away? What did I say, no cell phone for you until you turn 18 and out of the house.

ds: But please dad all the kids are doing it.

me: oh no they're not, look at this thread from 5 years ago in this message board I go to. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1082771 Now son you see why you have nothing except Concentration and opertion games in your room.

I was going to get you candyland and chutes and ladders as games but as a poster mentioned I didn't want to contribute to your high sugar intake, and make you afraid of heights.

Hopefully you understand that I didn't want to be blamed for all the bad things that would have happened to you so please try and undertsand son.

ds: Thank You dad. I love you more now than ever before!


Thank You OP I now have my son back!

There have been a LOT of hilarious things posted on this thread, but FoolishMortal, this is the hilariousist.

yes, I know that's not a word.

 

[momrek06]

WELL YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO OPEN UP THIS PANDORA'S BOX....

WAIT...WHO EXACTLY IS PANDORA and what exactly is going on

with her box...why is it closed in the first place?

 

[isyne4u]

The OP simply needs to stop being a wuss and put an abrupt end to her son's "campaign" as she calls it. In this house he'd have been spanked and grounded to his room for about a month.

I'm a bit behind and trying to catch up and this caught my eye....you do realize that someone is going to come back to you and let you know you are being a lazy parent because you spank and ground your kid...you really should sit down and play a bored game like...oh I don't know...maybe LIFE!! Then they can see the real world!! hehehe

 

[foolishmortal]

There have been a LOT of hilarious things posted on this thread, but FoolishMortal, this is the hilariousist.

yes, I know that's not a word.

Glad I can make someone happy while I am sitting here still sad from being called a lousy and lazy dad.

 

[punkin]

I don't have the time (or energy) to read through all the responses. I'll just post my mother's mantra: "Well if all the kids were jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you do it too?"

You're the parent, OP. You can just say no!

Other parents may choose to make decisions different from yours, and that's OK too.

BTW, my 13 yo DD has a computer w/ internet access in her room. I monitor that.

We only have one TV with reception.

My DD is on a crusade to get a cell phone and my DH is on her side, but guess what: she's not getting one because I feel it is a frivolity that we do not need.

If I worked during the time she was home from school, I would rethink my position. See, different solutions to different situations.

 

[foolishmortal]

I'm a bit behind and trying to catch up and this caught my eye....you do realize that someone is going to come back to you and let you know you are being a lazy parent because you spank and ground your kid...you really should sit down and play a bored game like...oh I don't know...maybe LIFE!! Then they can see the real world!! hehehe

Speaking of the real world. I am still waiting for a posh job and my free house filled with single women so I can go out drinking everynight.

I am beginning to think that MTV has lied to me.

 

[isyne4u]

Speaking of the real world. I am still waiting for a posh job and my free house filled with single women so I can go out drinking everynight.

I am beginning to think that MTV has lied to me.

yeah, its not fair that THOSE people get all of that and I'm stuck with my pitiful life!!

I guess I'll quit ignoring my children and get off the computer...i'll put them to work instead! If I have to work, darn it so do they!

tara

 

[ticktock]

I haven't read all the threads but I believe that both sides can be right in different situations. Regarding the many parents who posted their kids have every gizmo and still are honor roll students and participate in sports etc.., I doubt that these kids actually spend alot of time mesmerized by their toys. They utilize their tech as tools that can help them with their school work and occasionaly for entertainment, instead of being a slave to tv or the internet as so many people are both adults and children.


On the other hand most adults don't have this level of maturity and self control. Many people use tv, internet, music etc.. to escape their responsibilities. This is a well known fact. I can afford to give my son all of the coolest toys. I choose not to because I do believe it would be bad for him. I really don't think he should be watching things that are so inane that I can't stand to watch them with him, and I think it is good for him to watch some of my shows with me, this is another way I can share my values with him. Granted most of the things I watch are on HGTV so we're not talking anything inappropriate but why do you want to watch something you wouldn't want your 13 to see?

 

[L107ANGEL]

There have been a LOT of hilarious things posted on this thread, but FoolishMortal, this is the hilariousist.

yes, I know that's not a word.

Absolutely!!!

 

[Nana Annie]

Granted most of the things I watch are on HGTV so we're not talking anything inappropriate but why do you want to watch something you wouldn't want your 13 to see?

Because I am a grown-up and can watch an R-rated movie with an adult perspective

I can only watch so much Zach and Cody.

 

[foolishmortal]

I haven't read all the threads but I believe that both sides can be right in different situations. Regarding the many parents who posted their kids have every gizmo and still are honor roll students and participate in sports etc.., I doubt that these kids actually spend alot of time mesmerized by their toys. They utilize their tech as tools that can help them with their school work and occasionaly for entertainment, instead of being a slave to tv or the internet as so many people are both adults and children.


On the other hand most adults don't have this level of maturity and self control. Many people use tv, internet, music etc.. to escape their responsibilities. This is a well known fact. I can afford to give my son all of the coolest toys. I choose not to because I do believe it would be bad for him. I really don't think he should be watching things that are so inane that I can't stand to watch them with him, and I think it is good for him to watch some of my shows with me, this is another way I can share my values with him. Granted most of the things I watch are on HGTV so we're not talking anything inappropriate but why do you want to watch something you wouldn't want your 13 to see?

because I'm not 13 anymore.


Wow I was rolling right along with your post until that. If it was up to my son Spongebob, avatar, etc...would be all I get to watch.

 

[beckmrk04]

Granted most of the things I watch are on HGTV so we're not talking anything inappropriate but why do you want to watch something you wouldn't want your 13 to see?

I watch lots of shows that I wouldn't think were necessarily appropriate for a 13 year old, but I can, because I'm an adult, and I have a much different maturity level than a 13 year old.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

I watch lots of shows that I wouldn't think were necessarily appropriate for a 13 year old, but I can, because I'm an adult, and I have a much different maturity level than a 13 year old.

I'm more mature than you, so blah!

Honestly, not every adult has the same tastes as 13 year olds.

 

[mickeysgal]

I think your DVD purchase might be the lesser of the lazy evils. Drink and drive to dull the pain, or park the kids in front of a DVD to dull the pain. Yep, I think you chose correctly.

No need for a DVD player. The only entertainment kids need in the car is a good book. Have them read the whole time they're in the car - especially on family long vacations. They should read classic novels preferably in true old English style (such as Swiss Family Robinson). Take a dictionary along for those words they don't know. They are guaranteed to be quiet the whole trip,

Yeah, right!

 

[mickeyfan1]

Reading in the back seat of the car = me barfing. Did it as a kid, do it as an adult.

 

[beckmrk04]

Reading in the back seat of the car = me barfing. Did it as a kid, do it as an adult.

Oy. Me too! I cannot read in the car. I get sick and headache-y. And then I'm REALLY a pain.

 

[U2_rocks]

I love this thread, I've been following it all day!!!

I have nothing to say that hasn't already been said.

 

[aprilgail2]

Gee I can join the bad parents of teens and my daughter is only 6!! She has a TV with cable (I block out the channels I don't want her to watch), DVD player, a computer with cable modem and ::::gasp:::: a cell phone that she shares with her grandmother...I got an extra phone on my family plan and the 2 of them share it.-its only 9.99 a month and cheaper than those little kids ones that only can call 4 numbers....when my daughter goes on playdates or sleepovers she takes the phone with her...she doesn't take it to school, out anywhere other than when I drop her places and I give it to her.
If you don't want your kids to have things fine but don't push YOUR beliefs on other parents!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Even though my kids are babies, DH and i have already discussed these things before we even knew we would have children. we wanted to make sure we were on the same page. There will be NO TV in their rooms, yes we can afford to give them to them, but it just won't happen, one in the play room is enough! one in a room is completely unnecessary! The TV in the play room is also only hooked up to play movies, not the TV and our TV doesn't have cable/satellite or whatever. we watch a few programs that are our faves and movie nights on the weekends but we love going outside and exploring museums, grandmas house and the like.

A Computer in the room? NEVER! a child does not need a computer for any reson whatsoever in his/her room. We have one in the living room and that is where it will stay. Has anyone seen that Oprah with that boy that was lured into this crazy ring of pornography? no thank you. as much as you trust your child you can't trust others out there.

A cell phone??? PLEASE! we don't even have them! everyone tgalks of convenience, but how did out parents survive without us having cellphones and so on and so on? no i don't think so! however i do understand that MIGO thing! you only need to get a hold of your parents if you do have a cellphone.

This is just our opinions over here, but it has nothing to do with whether or not we can afford these things, it has to do with what we want for our children.

 

[mojophone]

Wow I don't take offense at much but this throws me for a loop.
Lazy? Me? you've got to be kidding I bust my **** everyday working to support my family and so does my wife. Now onto the reason you call us lazy.
I have 2 children a DS11 and a DD7. My son has a TV, gamecube and a stereo in his room, he also has his own telephone number. We do these things because he has earned them by 1 being an honor student and in a gifted program at school for extremely intelligent children. He also earns the "privledge" of these things because of all that he does at home. My son for an 11 year old works his tail off for it all and usually trys to figure out ways to pay for these things himself but is only allowed to purchase and use them as long as he sticks to our guidelines and rules, He screws up and he loses the use for a period of time. We will soon be purchasing (notice I said "we") a cellphone for him but only for the purposes of contacting his mother or I or 911. He will not have access to the phone number of that phone. The reason you wonder? This is why, We are as parents slowing learning to let go but want him to always know that he can reach us at anytime for any reason. We also watch our minutes carefully so that we don't go over and if his friends would happen to get his number then our minutes would go through the roof, or if he were able to call them again they would go through the roof. My daughter on the other hand has none of these things in her room because she isn't old enough nor is she responsible enough.