The real parenting hasn't really started yet. You've just been raising some little kids and hopefully putting some boundaries and foundations in place.
The REAL parenting starts around 14-15 and goes until they are 22-23. That's when the task is complete.
Shitty parents tend to bail on parenting around 14-15 and try and take the easy road of being the kids "friend", You're not their friend. Remember that. You're their parent. They aren't necessarily supposed to like you at that age.
Hold the line, stay strong and diligent and you will start to see the true payoff of parenting when they get to those 2-23yr old years.
Someonestolemysocks - Isn't your kid dating a high school drop out tattoo apprentice who's a few years older?
Nope she is dating a 1yr younger guy who is a neighbor and a good kid. She is in college now finishing pre recs, heading to Veterinary school in Colorado or St Kitts.
The real parenting hasn't really started yet. You've just been raising some little kids and hopefully putting some boundaries and foundations in place.
The REAL parenting starts around 14-15 and goes until they are 22-23. That's when the task is complete.
Shitty parents tend to bail on parenting around 14-15 and try and take the easy road of being the kids "friend", You're not their friend. Remember that. You're their parent. They aren't necessarily supposed to like you at that age.
Hold the line, stay strong and diligent and you will start to see the true payoff of parenting when they get to those 2-23yr old years.
good luck
-Judge
As a parent of a 15,13,and 12 year old I agree and thanks for the reinforcement. Pray for me
I am nervous about the impending struggles. Have a decade to prepare, but I often think about how what I think is hard now is just a taste of what is to come. I know what a jackass I was.
Hopefully you realize a parent is a friend to a kid, should be a best friend. Doesn't mean you still can't wear the role of disciplinarian and boss. Real parenting does not start at 14-15, that is the dumbest shit ever. I see little fucks that weren't raised properly at half that age who turned out to be degenerates. If you raise your kids properly you won't have teenage misfits you have to reign in and worry about 24/7.
The problem is parenting is being left to baby sitters, after care and grandparents too much these days. I have seen quite a few teens who needed very little parenting because they were raised properly.
If you have the mentality that your child is JUST your child, and NOT your friend, then in MY opinion, you are looking to create resentment, which will only lead to problematic issues...
You have to have balance in between the two, and BOTH are equally important.
If yout teenager looks at you as JUST a disiplinarian, then he/she will not feel a level of comfort with you to come ask, talk, or share hard to deal with issues with you, and that can lead to MORE issues...
Like I said, this is just my opinion...but it's worked for me.
I have a 20 year old daughter, a 19 year old son, and a 7 year old daughter....
Chicago radio legend Steve Dahl said that one of the best things he did raising his kids was that he wouldn't allow them to have friends sleep over or to sleep over at someone's house when they were in high school (other than some rare exceptions).
Which kind of makes sense. I know when I was in high school and slept over at someone's house, it was usually because we were up to no good
