Is it just me....

I'm so glad that my job is done

No seriously, I celebrated when my youngest daughter graduated high school. I celebrated the fact that they both graduated from high school and went on to further education. We'd made it!

And it wasn't easy. I was the one who supervised their internet access always trying to stay one step ahead of them to figure out what they were up to. We were usually the parents who went to pick up from parties at 1 in the morning, supervised trips to concerts, or had everyone here to practise for a play or whatever.

My kids hated me I'm sure at one point or another, but they are both still talking to me now (21 and 23.5 years old). It's damn hard work raising children and I don't think it's going to be any easier for future generations.

The one bit of advice I'd give anyone is to stay on top of what they are doing. Go to parent/teacher interviews even when things are going well at school, insist on meeting the parents of the friends they are hanging out with, and know where they are and who they are with.

I'm talking about senior public (junior high?) and high school. Once they got to college or university things changed.

myspace is just insane with the pictures of these girls in sexy poses. i agree, i also think access to the internet and sites like myspace (or friendster really when it was popular), hot or not, etc are a part of the reason being "sexy" is considered the new thing now.

it's funny, because i was by no means an angel when i was growing up, but nothing i did even compares to what i see with young kids now. yikes.

i seriously hope somehow myspace vanishes from existance by the time my kids are teenagers.

maura - that's horrible about your nephew's mother... and about your friend's mom. i think some parents think that the way to stay close to their kids is to be their best friend and not actually parent them.

NO it is n0t you. It is parents who think that their 3 year old droppin it like its hot is cute. Beyonce is a grown woman her dances aer not for toddlers. her clothing is not for lil people either.

I blame the parents!!!!

You are so right. I am a teacher and I have students come to school with words on thier butts! (hottie, juicy, and sweet thing) They make thongs for 1st graders...

YUCK!

OMG - I totally agree with all of you! The sweatpants with words written across the butts is so ridiculous, the Bratz dolls look like little whores (my daughter is not allowed to play with them), the little girls in high heels! We were in PV and I kid you not - we were in a kids clothing store and there were little girls strappy shoes with 1 1/2 inch heels on them! These were for toddlers!

My 9 year old wore black leather mary janes until they stopped making them in her size! Its parents who dont want to be parents. They all want to be their kids friends. Its parents who give their kids too much free time and let them get away with everything!

Some of my biggest pet peeves are nail polish on babies, little girls with sexy adult hairstyles, ANY and ALL of the Bratz dolls, and little girls wearing make up.

Parents - let your kids be kids as long as they can! What is the rush??

I am the mother of a 16 year old, and we have rules, no belly buttons are allowed to be seen unless we are on a beach, or at the pool. Short skirts are to be worn with tights, in the summer little shorts have to be under them. No thongs are allowed, no thigh high socks, belly button piercing is a great big NO, her nose is pierced and I am okay with that, not much sexual about that. I am lucky that kenda doesn't seem to want to look like that, she always looks adorable, and appropriate. My step daughter and I however fight about her clothes constantly, she is 12 and her mom lets her wear belly shirts, mini skirts with thigh high socks. Bria hates me when I make her change but she will not wear clothes like that on my watch! I watch the girls walking to school and half of them look as though they are on their way to a club, and it is 8am in the morning, wtf, my daughter wears a uniform and her school is really strict about being in full uniform at all times. Our biggest problem is keeping the girls from shortening their kilts too much, yes I do fight with Kenda about the length of her kilts, but thank god thats it.

This subject is always brought up with my friends and I, also with Erik.

Seriously, I was never allowed to wear clothes like what kids where today. I swear some of the kids (elem, jr, high) are wearing in public schools today is ridiculous....they look like skanks.....

I also went to private high school and hated the uniform but sometimes loved them.....didn't have to pick out clothes for the day.....I did try rolling my skirt up too hehehe....

it's a competition out there to look sexy, it's crazy.... I blame the parents too.