Teenager & Beyond

 

 

 

 

How do you best get your child ready for after school and their own life?

 

Continuously tell stories about how hard you had it as a kid.

            – Marcia Ross

 

Make sure they are responsible children.  Try to give a good example.  Lots of prayer.

            – Marilyn Nicacio

 

Start preparing them from the time they are young.

            – Sally Hull

 

The best way is a mystery that has yet to be solved.  But, if you have given your child responsibilities at home all along the way and helped them learn to take care of themselves, they will do you proud.  We were so lucky in that both Pat and Andy were good people and made excellent choices and decisions.  We just sat back and enjoyed you.

            – Gloria Van Inwegen

 

Get the clothes and the hair right.  Give them good advice and always be there for them through thick and thin.

            – Richard & Jas Nicacio

 

Get them in sports, and as many extra curricular activities as they're comfortable with.  Exposure will lead to good things.

            – Andy Van Inwegen

 

Tell them they are ready and the real facts of life.

            – Natalie Manning

 

What should parents pay for?

 

 Their child's college education.

Comments:

Sure, make it easy for him.  Marcia Ross

 

I’d go halves. Richard & Jas Nicacio

 

I feel parents should help in every way they can to ensure their children get a college education.  If the children can get part-time jobs during school that won’t interfere with or hamper their schoolwork, then I feel that is good.  Then they have their own spending money and the good feeling they get knowing they are helping with their education.  Gloria Van Inwegen

 

If you have enough money and want to help your child out.

Natalie Manning

 

Their teenage child’s clothes.

Pay only if you think the teen has good taste (as if that will happen). Marcia Ross

 

Yes, parents should provide clothing for their children.  This is one of the responsibilities you take on - feeding children and clothing them. Gloria Van Inwegen

 

Every now and again as we don’t want to spoil them. Richard & Jas Nicacio

 

If you want to have a say in what they wear. Natalie Manning

 

 

A car for their teenage child.

Comments:

         

Though serving a nice utility of self-transportation, they also teach the idiots how to flip people off, scream obscenities out the window while holding on to a mocha and chatting on the cell phone.  Multitasking is essential.  And, if you’re lucky, you’re chap will also learn some responsibility.

            – Andy Van Inwegen

 

Do you want that hassle?

            – Marcia Ross

 

They can have the old family car.

            – Nicole Schwartz

 

If it is convenient to the parent to have a teenager drive, then they should pay for at least part of the car.

            – Carolee Harris

 

It really makes life easier because teenagers are involved in so many activities that it is impossible to get everyone where they need to be without that extra car.  Also, a car can be a great bargaining point in various discussions (if you know what I mean).  It can be a family car that the teenager can use and take care of while they are at home.  I don’t like it when teenagers have a job just to support their cars.

            – Gloria Van Inwegen

 

The first one yes, not more than a $200 car though.  Let them get a job.

            – Natalie Manning

 

A cell phone for their teenage child.

 

Comments:

 

Not just no...Hell no! As teacher I have seen the issues with this one. Sally Hull

 

Give the teen a cell phone if you want to ever use the home phone.  Marcia Ross

 

No way.  Every home has a phone and teenagers need to know how to organize their lives in such a way that they won't need a cell phone, they can use the one at home.  Pat and Andy were pretty good on the phone situation, but I know some families have to set some firm ground rules so that teenagers aren’t on the phone all the time. Gloria Van Inwegen

 

What do they need a cell phone for? Nicole Schwartz

 

Buy the phone but let the child pay the bills. Richard & Jas Nicacio

 

But only with T-Mobile service of course.  Make it a family plan! Andy Van Inwegen

 

Heck no.  That is what a payphone is for.  Plus their friends will probably have one anyway. Natalie Manning

 

When should a child be expected to get a summer job?  And should they work during school?

 

Age: 12 or older.  Work during school only if grades and activities allow.

            – Marilyn Nicacio

 

Age: 13.  They should never work during school, their focus should be on academia.

            – Andy Van Inwegen

 

Age: 15 or 16.  Whenever they want to start buying things and clothes that they want and is in style.  Only if they have enough credits and can handle it their senior year.  And only part time.

            – Natalie Manning

 

It was nice that both Pat and Andy began mowing lawns when they were younger to earn some extra money.  It helped build responsibility and a good work ethic in both of them.  I don’t like kids to get serious jobs when they are too young.  They will be working for the rest of their lives.  And I definitely don’t think teenagers should work during school at all.  Their focus should be on school and learning and doing well there.  They should be encouraged to participate in school activities and be given the time to do it - not work at a job that takes them away from all of these great things.  They get one time to be a teenager, allow them that time.

            – Gloria Van Inwegen

 

A child should be expected to get a summer job when they are old enough to be hired.

            – Carolee Harris

 

She will get a job while in high school, if she has no legitimate extra activities.

            – Nicole Schwartz

 

When the child is old enough to mow lawns / babysit / pick cherries, or in other words at 12.

            – Marcia Ross