Anyone with teens having to deal with this? Now that my 15 year old sons public school friends are out on Christmas break, he is getting many requests from these friends for night time activities. We didn't really stop home schooling now, so its still a school night and I would like to keep our routine as is. Ugh...it seems that his social life is becoming more important now that he is 15. What to do?

Of course my husband and I sit at the head of the table, as we are the homeowners and masters of the castle. My husband and I even installed "lifts" on our chairs to raise them higher than our guests, family, and children. This signifies our status at the table.

Just my two cents, but it seems like your more interested in burying your head in the sand on what others observe, instead of correcting the child. Look at it from the other adults point of view: A disrespectful child with an attitude who's mother just defends him.

I'm dubbed the "meanest mom" because I won't allow the 14 out with friends past dark on a school night. Oh well...lol

Tap- Noticed you said your 16 doesn't have a curfew "yet". Is that because he regulates it himself right now or he just doesn't go out much yet?

Does your teen have an established curfew or do you manage on a event by event basis? What time is reasonable for a 14 year old who now has Freshman in HS friends with more freedom than I have been comfortable with?

Literally in their room for the day? Will your oldest obey that rule?

I was at a birthday party with my 14-year old son for his cousin (my husbands family). My jaw dropped when another cousin, who is also just 14, told my son that he was a "little tired" because he was "out with older friends" in Chicago the previous night until 3 am. At first I thought it was just a story, but the mom (my husbands second cousin) confirmed the story! I didn't get any further details on specifics of who these friends were, etc. etc...but I heard just enough to make my head spin. I just cant even begin to tell you what horrible feelings that I have for this "mom" and her lack of parenting skills. We always knew that she wasn't the greatest parent, but this tops the cake. Besides the obvious and the legality questions of curfew (whether he was with an adult or not I don't know). Anyway, except for family gatherings that we can not avoid, we try to avoid these people socially. Sorry for the rant...but I just couldn't believe a parent (and family member) could be so irrespsonsible. A 14 year old old is still just a child...

Well I am almost feeling embarassed from asking the question, as I can clearly see that this is NOT something others have experienced. As for the pastor, we haven't seen his house but the church did look in at one point of establishing a home for the pastor---but that never materialized. I believe now the Pastor receives an allowance for his home in addition to the salary/benefits. Thanks for all your replies and kindness!

I haven't had the nerve to ask others in the church if they too are on a payment plan. I do know that on a Sunday a few weeks back, and I have heard this years ago too, that if you can not afford to tithe 10% at this church, you need to find a church you can tithe 10% at! So all my fellowchuch goers feel the pressure I'm sure.

I don't know if this is right, but my family and I have recently returned to church after several years away. We attended this church for several years in the late 90's through 2001 or 2002. At that time we did try to tithe 10% of our income. Upon returning to the church a couple of months ago, our pastor sat down with us to discuss our reinstatement as members. Much to my surprise he started to discuss payment of tithes between 2001 or 2002 through last month that we missed paying because we had not attended. I was startled and did not know what to say. I do not want to be told we can not attend and I had been taught as a child not to question an authority figure, but now I wish I did. After discussing our current and past finances with the pastor and him allowing us to pray about it for 48 hours, we agreed to tithe 10% of our current income and add an additional monthly $363.27 as a "back payment" for 60 months! Should have I agreed to do this and has anyone else heard of this, or been put on a church payment plan like this?

Friday and Saturday mine have friends over too and ussually here till 10 or 10:30.... We live in a suburban area and besides my husband needing to get up at 6, our neighbors work as well. Out of courtesy, I just won't let our kids out playing basketball our anything else outside causing noise past 9 or maybe 9:30 on a work night.

I would see his peditrician and find out whats going on.

All of these teen threads made me wonder about Younger Teen Curfews during the summer. Sure our town has a curfew, but I would never let my kids stay out that late. My younger than 16's need to stay in our yard or neighbors yard after dinner until its time to come in (unless there is a pre-orgainzed activity that we agreed to with other kids families). How late do you let your younger teens stay out on a summer night? Even today I still want mine in the house by dark....maximum 9 pm. I don't care if the stay up late, but my husband has to get up for work at 6 so we expect the kids to be "ready for bed" after 9 or 9:30 pm and be reasonably quiet.

I agree. I live in a suburban area and we have a great park district. We have a great aquatics center with well behaved kids and teens swimming, we have two skate parks with neighborhood teens skating unsupervised and behaving themselves. Kids play volleyball and tennis in the parks, we have frisbee golf and all sorts of play equipment thats geared for little kids and younger teens. The grass is cut in our parks and the pool is well maintained. Our mall is open and well maintained.... Are there people who are hurt by the current economy? Yes---but our town and neighborhood isn't falling apart. Many of these posts could have been written by my parents some 25 years ago----basically "those dang teens are up to no good".... LOL

Yellow tie and wool jacket? Summer in the south? Yikes! If you want to give him a serious shot at the job, have him get a suit.

I wouldn't want someone else teaching my child driving skills. I can do it just fine myself.

Unless it's a prearranged activity, we pretty much are year round 9 pm in room and 9:30 lights off.

May I suggest a compromise on John. If your son likes John and your husband does not approve due to the "Bad John" in your family----you could have your sons legal name changed to John but he could go by the nick name for John---which is "Jack". Same with Richard/Dick.

Dulci, :iagree: That is just terrible. I didn't mean to stereotype ALL public school teachers. I am surprised about home schooling parents posting messages all day long. How terrible! They should know better! Why would you bring your children home so you can just chat on a message board all day?

between two public school parents at an athletic event last week. Apparently their kids reported the teachers are not actually teaching students during the day, but spending many hours chatting via on-line message boards! During the school day no less!!! I couldn't believe it! But I guess you get what you pay for! That is why we home schoolers are really the best!

I also should add that after several gymnastics lessons with my coach, I found that there were many errors she was making in her teaching strategy with me. I was soon surprised that I was more knowledgeable about gymnastics than SHE was!!!!!!! I had fully learned everything I needed to learn from this woman after only 13 weeks, and I was now able to home coach my son. On week 14 the tables literally turned.... I started to show my gymnastics coach the proper way to dismount (vs. the old outdated method she had taught me). She learned more from me than she'll ever admit...

I would not put up with this "coach". When my son was 8, he had a gymnastics coach that was too hard on the kids----and this coach was the only gymnastics coach in town for boys. Some of the other kids in the gymnastics class also acted aggressively around my son and would tell my son they were better than he was. I decided to get a book on gymnastics and I enrolled in a gymnastics course myself. As you know, kids can not choose their teachers but adults can....and I can push back at the teacher if i need too. Anyway, after several lessons I felt confident to start teaching my son gymnastics myself. We rented an hour of gym time each week and I personally taught my son gymnastics for over 3 years. He learned much more than he ever would have from that "coach" and being around those other kids.

Stipe, thanks. I missed your reply.

Tap, thanks. My 14 has hoodies too, I can't get home to put on a robe though. My sons feet get cold too and he will sleep with socks on, the only one in the house who does. The flannels you get from jc Penney and costco, are they just bottoms or a set? Carol