FOREVER....and a day..

The Rule

Rules, rules, rules! Many times they seem unfair, irrational,and downright dictatorial..The problem with trying to fight these rules (or sneaking around them) is that it often leads to unhappy results that affect both you and your family..Does this mean you're doomed to feel constantly trapped and just accept being treated like a kid all throughtout your teenage years? Not necessarily..The good  news is that there are ways to play by your parents' rules and still make your high school and college years enjoyable and unforgettable.. Once you understand the concerns behind these rules, you can definitely make them work for you..

Here are a peek at the top of three rules and concerns inside your parent's mind....:

RULES:

1. The Boyfriend Rule:
                                    Your parents don't want anything as serious as a relationship to distract you from finishing your studies. They also want u help avoid getting pregnant before u are actually ready.. And lets face it--the possibility of you getting pregnant would be much higher if u had a boyfriend..

2. The Going out Rule:
                                    Your parents want to know you won't tire yourself out too much and you'll know how to practice moderation both at work and play..The curfews and conditions they set also help them know you'll be relatively safe while you're out..

3. The Grade-Focused Rule:
                                     Parents usually only implement this rule when they're truly concerned about your grades..In short, it would benefit you to be concerned about it as well..


BUT....we often ask ourself....Why are they so strict?

CONCERNS:

1. Safety and Emergencies:
                                    We don't really plan for accidents or emergencies to happen (which is why they're called "accidents" and "emergencies").,but your parents know they can set certain rules that would make them less likely to happen to you..

2. Priorities and Balance:
                                                          Your parents won't be around forever, so they want to make sure you'll be able to take care of yourself by choosing the things that truly bring value to your life, like a good education, proper values, and productive habits...

3. Worst Case Scenarios:
                                   Your parents have probably heard the horror stories of bad things that have happened to other teens and they can't bear the thought of these things happening to you and ruining your life...

*****
Any interaction with your parents is always an opportunity to practice being more mature in the way you think, speak, and make decisions..They may not be perfect...no human being is___but that doesn't mean you'll have to reject the good things they want to pass on to you..If we were to sum up the kind of "growing up" your parents would like to see in order to give you more freedom, we could describe it in one question: "Are you becoming responsible enough to predict, plan, and prepare for the possible consequences of any choice you make?" As soon as your parents see that the answer is becoming YES, then it's very likely that they'll soon be letting you set your own rules----and be proud of you for it....:)