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[DJD]

I have been dealing with a teenage daughter now who feels she is 21 on some days and acts like she is 10 on others. I know it's typical of teenagers but man it's a challenge.

She isn't a straight "A" student but she does well when she tries. I have pushed for her to be on the Swim Team for the feeling of belonging to something and understanding practice responsibilities, being part of a team, getting the teachings from another adult and the ups and downs of competing. They have practice at 8:15-9pm twice a week and on Sunday and meets on Saturdays. Talk about a challenge with school work! I feel it's worth it so I make time to take her.

I think being involved with your kids is the key to many aspects of their upbringing. I sacrifice alot of my time so my daughter knows she can count on me which is what I want. She knows her boundries(she tests them all the time) and we have fun together but I'm not trying to be her best friend. She knows Daddy is Daddy and when the chips are down I'll be there but it works the other way too. If she goofs up I'll be their to deal with that as well.

I'm not sure how much the schools should help raise our kids. I personally feel that if the gubment is financing the program it's prolly a train wreck. Sure it runs but at what cost? We have all seen the steady progression of gubment wanting to raise our kids for us and of parents wanting more. It's a terrible mess and a huge money pit. I don't know alot about the BOE as a parent since we do private school but I know how corrupt it is from a business standpoint.

[kydonky]

I'm seem to be one of the lucky ones. My children never gave me any trouble including their teen and young adult years. Actually they pretty much have entertained me for the last 30+ years. Daughter attended public schools (not the best ones in the county that everyone was trying to buy into). But she always did well and graduated UK Suma Cum Lada in two degrees then on to graduate school with a Magna Cum Lada doctorate.


We always included them in everything we did, allowed them to make decisions even at age 5 and 6. We thought it was fun to explain a situation to them and give them a few choices of actions. We let them decide and then followed through with their recomondations (it was better than flipping a coin). To make a long story short we did not ignore them and stayed involved.

I use to help my daughter with her math homework untill her teacher sent a note home asking me to stop.

My son is handicapped and has no speach and very limited communications skills. Early we were told to place him in Oakwood as this would be the best placement for him. We kept him with us. Now he is self supporting in a assisted living home. He is very happy and most who have known him cannot believe how far he has come.

My daughter had many troubled freinds in her high school years. At one point one of her freinds was kciked out of her house at age 17. She lived with us for about 6 months durring very troubled times for her. This was a good child as well and I just could not understand why/how her parents could just kick her to the curb.

So many parents complain and the frequently use the statment "when he/she turns 18 they are on their own". these kids hear this for 4 or 5 years before they turn 18 so they cannot have much sense of security. 18 is still a child. My daughter the doctorate still comes to me for advise!!!!!

When she was 17 she told me "you know that when I turn 18 you will not be the boss of me anymore" I told her then that this was leagally true but that psychologically I would continue to be her boss. Believe it or not she seemed to accept this and the issue never came up again.

Just wish they could find the time to go fishing with me like we used too, not just the 1 or 2 times a year.