I love what Lynn said about her being precious. About what is precious to her. This unchartered territory thing of teens is quite challenging. Often delightfully so, but sometimes, I am alarmed. And not at the teens. I seem to be ranting a tad, but I too tend to be a little precious about the things that I hold dear. And I hold all children dear. I know I’m not a prude and I really think I have quite an open and often novel view of the world. But I just don’t think its ok for parents to have parties for 14 turning 15 year olds and provide alcohol. I’m not sure if they are just lost, misguided, trying too hard to be cool parents or have just given up. Which would be sad. Maybe I’m just old fashioned. But that would mean being a bit behind, a bit unaware, maybe a bit blinkered. Not having an open view of the world as it is today. And I think I do. So is being ‘a cool parent’ refusing to set boundaries and consequences. Just giving up on parenting. Not caring enough. I know kids will experiment and should experiment and I know I shudder at what I got up to as a teenager, and that it is necessary to challenge the boundaries, and I know we would prefer to have our kids misbehaving in our homes. But really. The boundaries need to be set to be able to be challenged. Alcohol was never provided at our parties when I was 14. Or 15. We were not encouraged to get trashed. Am I wrong? Have I really got it that wrong? Am I really just old fashioned? And if that is what it is, then I am really cool with not being a cool parent. Because I love my kids far more than I love being cool.
grace and dignity
a life to be grateful for
grace and dignity 
Couldn’t have felt it or expressed it better. x
From facebook
Lesley Oliver, Samantha Yates Schroeder and 4 others like this.
Bart N Lynn I am cool with not being cool too. We can be uncool together 🙂
May 31 at 10:46am via mobile · like · 1
Heather McNeice I’m with you on this one Lianne.
May 31 at 11:07am · like · 1
Emma Fox Well said Lianne.
May 31 at 11:54am via mobile · like · 1
Nicola Heppell You are not wrong at all, totally agree xx
May 31 at 12:32pm via mobile · Like
Claudia Da Rocha Rawlins One of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was a long childhood. That came with giving me boundaries and everything in its on time. Im grateful that they weren’t ‘cool’.
May 31 at 1:39pm · like · 1
Theresa Milne my mother always taught me to pay for my own drugs and gambling debts…. (just kidding about the subject matter) – the principle was applied to all things. Contraband is not something your parents should supply – it is something you provide for yourself – it is not your birthright.
May 31 at 7:11pm · like · 1
Samantha Yates Schroeder Well I know what I was doing at 14… But I agree with you.. Parents should not be teaching there kids to do illegal things.. Surely? There is time for everything & if kids experience everything to early like alcohol.. What’s next at 15 or 16?? They will always try something forbidden… So Becareful of what u make ok!!!!!! Aaaaahhhhhh to much!! ; /. x
May 31 at 7:25pm via mobile · like · 1
Lianne Cawood Love how “old Fashioned” we all are … the scary thing is I know the day is soon when all we can do is done, and my girls will have to make their own way … but sheesh, us parents def should not be hurrying that along!! Love you all.
May 31 at 9:56pm · Like · 1
Janine Daniels Like you, I know what I got up to in my teens. But I hate to think how much worse it would have been if my parents had sanctioned it. If wanting my boys to have a childhood is ‘old fashioned’ then that’s what I’m proud to be. With you all the way my friend xx
Friday at 12:38am via mobile · like · 2