Search Results for: blog with freedoms come responsibility

Teens Need Rules But They Also Need Freedoms

There is no question that teenagers need rules, which is many times not a difficult thing for parents to mete out. What can be more challenging is also giving teenagers their freedoms. It can be difficult to draw the line between the two. However some issues are non-negotiable and require firm rules. For instance rules should be established concerning a curfew, the ability to drive the family car or even in dating. In each family the logistics of those rules will vary but they should be established and then discussed. I will admit that I have no problem coming up … Continue reading →

With Freedoms Come Responsibility

You will often hear me refer to Dr. Phil as I write some of these blogs on teenagers. He does a great job at tackling some of the issues that teens deal with today. One of the running themes that I see in virtually every show of his that deals with teenage issues is a sense of entitlement. Many teens believe that they are entitled to things, not just material possessions but it can come in the way of freedom. They feel like they are so close to adulthood that they have the right to do things that adults do. … Continue reading →

Ask a Homeschooling Blogger: Is Homeschooling Sexist?

Question: I’ve been recently reading that some homeschoolers are emphasizing in their home education programs that girls are to be wives and men are to be the leaders. As a teacher I am concerned about this trend and want your opinion. Is home schooling inherently sexist and do you think something should be done to legislate how these families are teaching? It seems to me that homeschoolers may well raise a generation of women who aren’t well educated. There indeed has recently been some buzz about sexist home education. Since I have four daughters, I do of course have thoughts … Continue reading →

Teaching Kids the Responsibilities That Come With Freedom

Growing children have a natural tendency to believe that they are the center of the universe and that they have natural entitlements. I recently heard someone referring to my teenager’s generation as the generation of entitlements. With so much opportunity and stuff so readily available, it can be incredibly hard for modern parents to convey the responsibilities and sense of duty that go hand-in-hand with freedom, privileges and rights. Privileges and freedoms definitely come with responsibility and the need to have an understanding and appreciation for the realities of such freedom. For example, teaching our children the histories and reasons … Continue reading →

The Day the World Stood Still

I still remember vividly the day those towers fell. I was only 12, but I remember that feeling of fear that filled my parent’s faces as they heard the news as the first plane hit. I heard them question each other wondering if it might have been an accident, until 17 minutes later the second tower was hit. We were on our way to school. Every television was on, as we watched the attack that day. As children we feared what this would mean for us. We could hardly comprehend what was happening. Now looking back 11 years later we … Continue reading →

Time for Cell Phone?

In this day and age it seems like everyone has a cell phone, children and teenagers alike. I recently was student teaching in a sixth grade class at a local elementary school. Nearly all of the children had cell phones, and most of them were much nicer than mine. Children as young as kindergarten are feeling pressure to get a cell phone and cell phone companies are responding to their plight. They even have cell phones designed for toddlers now in case of an emergency. Cell phone companies such as Firefly Mobile have cell phones designed specifically for children’s needs … Continue reading →

Getting Called on the Carpet

Judge Judy has this saying that has always stuck with me. “How do you know when a teenager is lying?” The answer is…their lips are moving. In other words, you can’t count on anything being truthful when it comes to a teen. The first time I heard this, I had to laugh. While I don’t believe its true, I do understand where she is coming from. Trust is something we earn. I try to explain to my teens that it’s true in our house as well. When I know I can trust them, when they have earned my trust, I … Continue reading →

The “Aha” Moments in Life

In my last parenting blog I wrote about a potential near tragedy that occurred in my home while I was out of town last weekend. My 17-year-old son’s friend had taken his BB rifle and was messing around with it when it discharged. It struck his friend in the throat, with the pellet now lodged in his tongue. Just one inch over and it would have been fatal. Since then the BB gun has been removed from my son’s bedroom and we aren’t sure about when (if ever) we are going to give it back. It has certainly been a … Continue reading →

Encourage Teens to Pursue a Career They Are Passionate About

(My son in his Civil Air Patrol uniform) As I am writing this, my 17-year-old son has just left for his first official day of work. After eight months of looking, he finally landed a job. Of course it was with the help of my husband, who is the manager at a store that belongs to a large grocery chain in our city. He put in the word and my son was hired. Yes, it helps to know someone. My husband waited this long to play the card because he was worried that our son would end up like him. … Continue reading →

Mom Turns in Teen Children for Crimes Caught on Tape

Every June the city I live in, Milwaukee, hosts its annual 11 day music festival, “Summerfest.” It takes place along the lakefront at Maier Festival Park. With sometimes hundreds of thousands of people attending, there is always the chance of some kind of incident that involves the police. For the most part however, major problems are avoided. Well, that was until this past week. The big news story didn’t involve a bunch of drunken adults. No, it was about a group of 22 teenagers who looted a gas station and assaulted a number of victims. I should be fair and … Continue reading →