Chey? I never said teens of today are so much more mature than we were! I don't believe that in the least...to the oppisite...I think they have more to learn at 14 than I ever did. It seems the more children get today...the less mature they have to be...and therefore less responsible for their own actions...than I ever experienced!

I value good parents and their care and loving of a child coming up in this world today! I never said parenting was easy...matter of fact, I've always thought I am in awe of a parent that can get their child past the "peer years"...the years of going with the flow and following the herd.

That's the part that's tougher today than ever! Seems to me kids have been misgiuded by laws meant for abused children, and when in need, in their selfish eyes, want to "use" those laws against a parent who is trying to guide the child...not abuse him/her! Example: "If you ground me for violating curfew, I will call the "authorities" and tell them I am being abused"! It seems like a Twilight Zone episode I just saw lately...the one where the child has control over a whole family who believes that his every whim should be attended to or he will make something bad happen to them. His powers of persuasion keep the adults in line. That's what the up and coming kids of today seem to me! Turns out...in the end...he really just wanted someone to guide him with a stronger hand than his "magical" powers. The power of love and caring!

To be honest...I am scared of some them! And...I think they like it like that too!

I had the deepest respect for my elders when I was young. I don't see it in every child today. I see anger and saddness and fear and pain and a cry for attention...but especially anger...and I can't explain where this is coming from! How have things changed so drastically that the kids of today feel a need to take a gun to school and shoot everyone in sight? If I heard of one incident of it's kind in my youth...I can't remember it!!!! It scares the hell out of me!

I have great friends who's children are required to call me and Mr. Lixy...Mr. "Lixy" and Mrs. "Lixy" (real names obscured) and they are to say excuse me and please and thank you and may I and all the other reasonable polite manners taught to me when I was a child. I was a little uncomfortable with this new revelation for the kids...since the eldest son always knew us by our first or nicknames (called me by my first name...hubby by his nickname that his dad called him by), but our friend was a bit of a rebel in his time and didn't want his children to follow in his footsteps.

So...I guess it boils down to parenting and maybe I am learning something here too. Clothes make the child...as well as the man/woman????

I dunno....I still say if you dress all wrong in the eyes of your peers...and it's not your decision, but that of your parents...you might just get shunned or beat up or something or other! Kids can be so cruel...and if clothing can make a difference..I say Viva La Difference! (<----shitty french, if I do say so myself). I think we all grow out of the intolerable clothing stage! I'm no worse for the wear...<---pardon the pun!

And seriously...for all you parents who are hell bent on making them change their attitude of dress...just tell them you love it and you are going to wear the same style too! That'll put the fear of YIKES into um! If just telling them doesn't work...go and buy a top and/or jeans and don your thongs and make them go out in public with you. Worse case scenario? The neighbors will fence their yard with a cyclone fence! Ahhhhhh...more privacy for you!

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Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~