Quote:
Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
I think a problem in suburban communities is that kids have way too much free time - for the most part, they don't have jobs and they have cars, so they don't have a sense of responsibility because things are handed to them. I think a part time job and not getting every new shirt at Abercrombie might help.
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I know that my kids, and most of their friends, have far less free time than I had as a high school student. Student activities are big here--it is not unusual for my kids to be at school between 10 and 12 hours on school days. The years my daughter was on the swim team and in marching band I rarely saw her during the fall.
The advice we hear is keep 'em busy, keep 'em out of trouble. It seems to have worked for us. Reading through some of the news stories it seems like many of the GBN seniors were involved--lots of LAX players--I can't remember what else.
I think where the parents went wrong was not making them accept consequences for their actions (e.g., the girl who was expelled in April, wiggled out of it and then get involved in Powder Puff) and tolerating illegal behavior (underage drinking). If parents think the rules don't count, what will the kids think?
I personally know many kids who have a lot but at the same time they are hardworking, responsible and caring.