I just had to write about this because it is in my face every day. Too many parents let their kids walk all over them these days! A prime example is played out in a commercial that irks me every time I see it. It is the one about which is more frustrating, sharing a phone with a teen or dealing with dial up. Whenever the snotty teen says, "I'm on the phone!" I think, that parent should say, "Are you paying the phone bill? Until you do, you will use the phone when I say you can."

How is it that parents now let kids think that they have the right to TELL them where they will be, what they will be doing, wearing, etc. I think the fine art of tough love has been lost. I hear people debating with 5yr olds...come on! I remember threatening my Mom that if I didn't get my way I would run away. Did she debate? No. She said, "Here's a lunch. Take care." She new I would go as far as my neighbor's house, sulk and then want to come home. That would probably be considered child abuse these days. It got the message through to me that I wasn't the only one in the family that mattered. I had to consider others.

I fear we are raising a generation of selfish, greedy, disrespectful, inconsiderate people. Even my son's kindergarten teacher let the students walk all over her (almost literally!) I am not a strict person by any means but my kids, even at this early age are getting lessons in the fact that it is Mommy and Daddy's house they live in. They live by our rules. We stand by the old motto that you get to be boss once you have your own house.

I know that teens are difficult. I don't really look forward to those days but I do remember what it was like. I think the kids that have more structure and more limits have an easier time than the ones that have more percieved freedom. They do better with parents that are parents not ones that try to be their buddy. I don't strive to be the "cool" mom. I strive to be the mom that has well adjusted, well behaved kids that become good contributions to society.