Kids These Days....

[Bianca Cerna]

Ok, so picture yourself back in the 60's where kids ran free...with their parents right at their heels. sounds like fun right?! How about not. Parents were so much more stricter back in the day, but not only that, kids didn't really think for themselves, well at least the "good kids." Sure they could hang with their friends, go on dates, and do all that good stuff teenagers did, but they were limited. Their parents would try, and were usually successful, to keep them away from people/friends that they thought were "bad company," but they probably just thought they were the devil. So in other words, parents were uptight.

So coming back to present day 2010, what do you think parents or grandparents think of their kids today? Well I'll tell you what I see and hear from my own family. My family is what I call "Modern Old-School." They may look like they live in this era, but truth be told, their minds are still in the 60's back in their home country. They overreact with little things and yes they love to follow you, right on your heels. Except in my family it's more like you follow them.

Old school parents are the worst. One wrong move and they think that kids are complete rebels and out of control. Which may be the case with some kids but not all of them. They probably think that society and media is affecting todays generation and compelling them to do as they wish. I think it's more because society in a way tells us to think for ourselves. Of course, thinking for yourself, and disobeying your parental unit, doesn't mix well.



What do you think? Should parents chill out and just kick it back more? Or should they be concerned that their little baby is growing up????

[megan bryk]

I think parents should find a medium between being too strict and too easy going. If they are too strict kids will want to rebel but if parents don't care kids can get into trouble. They need to find a medium where they have rules but they trust and talk to their kids. My parents remind me of parents from the 60's because I have the same rules as they did.

[Abby Muller]

i feel blessed to have understanding parents. Yes we have gone through our rough patches but overall i appreciate my parents and their level of control. There have been times when i don't understand their reasoning behind things in the moment, but a lot of times i get what they were saying later.

[Patrick Witt]

I think parents should be open to things their kids want to do. Simple things such as what clubs they want to join and what their interests are. Things like that are where it should be the kid's choice. I think the parents need to keep a child in line if they are misbehaving and going against what the parents ask. I went to see a musician yesterday and he said, "Kids aren't changing, parents are." He went on to say that children reflect the actions of the authority figure of the house, usually being the parent, and perform these actions in their best interpretation. I would have to agree with this because I feel that children, no matter the age, tend to reflect off of what their parents do.

[Carly Mckay]

Parents should be strict, but at the same time, there should definitely be a limit. Any good parent would listen and talk to their kids to find out how they want to spend their time, and adjust from there. I unfortunately don't have the most understanding parents in the world. I do feel lucky, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I feel like they don't hear me. We all struggle with our parents sometimes, some more then others. I just try to remember that they are just looking out for me, even if my mom still thinks I'm 8 years old.

[Ben Luke]

I agree with Jack's comment. Depending on the situation, parents should adjust. I can't say how easy or hard that is, because I'm not a parent, but I think they need to at least try to adjust. I know, my parents are way more strict than all of my friends' parents and I hate it. They allow me some freedoms, but then are completely unreasonable on others. They have many rules that I have to live by so I have to stay home while I see my friends go off and do something fun as a group. I think they need to chill out and lay off me more.

[Jack Andersen]

I think that there are certain situations when parents should be up tight, and situations when they should relax. If parents are getting a little nervous when you, your health, or your life is in danger, then it is completely reasonable. But parents need to ease up if they are getting up tight when you are spending a night with a group of friends.

[whitney cummings (caleo)]

I think when parents are way to strict, they're children want to rebel more because they feel so deprived. Ive seen it with some of my friends. However, too leanient of parents may be taken advatage of by their children if they dont create some sort of boundaries. I dont think parents should be overly strict, but they cant be too chill either. I think the best relationship is in the middle, when both the parents and the child can communicate, meet half way. When parents have a good relationship with their child and can communicate, the child is more likely to be honest and respect the parents.

[Bridget Babcock]

They should be concerned with how they are growing up, but it has to be in moderation. I think if there was a medium between helicopter parent and totally chilled out, do whatever-you-want, parent that would be totally satisfactory.

[Aly Glover]

My parents are a little bit of both. They let me have my freedom and will allow me to do most things. However, there are those times where they are "old school" and won't let me do things. I think it is just because, like you said, they are concerned about their little baby growing up.

[Halle Gitelson]

I think that my parents are doing and have done a really great job so far. They push me to try my hardest, support me in whatever decisions i make, and always give me great advice. Their parenting style is a mixture of both "old" and "new" school, but it keeps changing as i get older. They are starting to loosin up on rules and give me my freedom, but i also i have to earn that freedom. Basically they trust me and know that they have raised me right.