TINKERING: TAKE THE PLUNGE!

I am so, so sorry. When people start the “OMG, you’re the worst for doing that!” pile-on, I believe they’re well-intentioned. And not facing meth, or an ever-escalating rape/very young sexualization culture, or actual human children who are not “them” with “their” issues as teens. Case-by-case parenting is and always…

That’s the thing I mentioned elsewhere; even good kids play the game sometimes and will lie like they get paid for it. Parents who aren’t onto that fact need to know it.

You are correct in that it was a blanket statement, possibly even clearly hyperbolic to those without issues that go above and beyond those of normal, everyday parenting. But it is the internet, and I forgot my bag o’ qualifiers. So judge away, internet stranger, I’m sure you are spot on in what a terrible parent I…

I’m getting some crazy serious replies (of course) to basically a half-joking comment, but TRUTH. My 17yo came in about a half-hour past curfew the other night and gave this longggggg drawn out account of a wait stuck in a drive through line when all they wanted was a milkshake and... blah blah blah. We gave her a…

I’m really sorry about your relationship and issues.

They will always, always win the game. That’s what they don’t know - we know we’re mostly defeated, we just keep up a strong enough front to make ‘em wonder.

Yeah, it definitely is, but the point remains the same. Sometimes as parents, you use what’s at your disposal. Given that you’re going to massively fuck up along the way somewhere, erring on the side of caution and using your kid’s GPS really isn’t the worst way to do it.

I don’t think anyone said any differently. I am just saying you’d be amazed how much even great kids lie, like it’s their damn job, for pretty innocuous reasons. It’s weird.

Ha, yes, this rings true with how my relationship is with my kids. I get the rough outlines when I need them (becoming sexually active so we could schedule doctor’s visits and such), dig for details if they seem necessary (someone suddenly going into a “goth” period with a radical shift in friends), etc, but try to…

In all honesty I haven’t read their texts, but nope, disagree about their need for privacy. Or disagree that it’s sacrosanct. You learn quickly how to ask the right questions.

Oh, Natasha, we get it. You’re still closer to Teen than Exhausted Parent. But trust me this article will come back to haunt you in some way.

As someone who’s currently contemplating a move to Long Beach from tinytown, TX, this makes me anxious as hell. (My husband might take a position there.) The one bright side: my kids will all be in college by then.

My daughter-in-law is gluten-sensitive. She “can” eat gluten-containing items, and occasionally chooses to do so as a “quality of life” thing, but pays for it the next day. So, which is she, legit, or not, in your eyes?

She’s guessing about those gluten free folks, and nothing more. Unless they’ve a) told her they’re just avoiding gluten as a diet/lifestyle choice and b) told servers they’re allergic, she’s just making a pretty dickish assumption.

And of course they get called offensive names but YOUR issues are legit.

Michael Anson, your last sentence gives me hope for mankind. No joke.

I actually wasn’t being snarky, though it’d be safe to assume I was, given the subject matter & the kinja neighborhood and all. I mean, I’m into some stuff that used to be considered completely “out there” (ie, D/s stuff) that is sort of disconcertingly mainstream now. And frankly, I’m with you, if they appear to be…

Cool, Diane, looking forward to it.