Kids who don't have responsibilities...

[Logan]

Kay, your point is well taken and I see it a lot, having a teenage daughter of my own. As long as she stays in school, keeps her grades up, plays her sports and helps out at home, I have no problem. She is a 15 year old girl who has not disappointed us at this time, and she is striving to get into college at a school with high academic standards. That is the most important thing for her to concentrate on at this time. BUT, I do hold her responsible for some of her outside expenses, even though she doesn't hold a job at this point. I just don't want to see that hand held out, all the time, for this or that, especially eating out and movies, when a meal is being provided at home. That is the kind of thing that she has to make choices about and use her own money to pay. She makes some money by babysitting, and yes, I pay her a measly allowance, every month. But, I buy her clothes, pay for sports expenses, buy her gasoline (as long as she is being responsible in where she is driving), and obviously pay all her other living expenses. I am proud of the choices my daughter has made and I have tried to raise her the way my parents raised me, to be responsible, with my education as the most important thing.

I worked in the summers from the time I was 14 years old. I rode my bicycle to work most days, when I wasn't a legal driver, and later either got a ride from one of my parents, or drove one of their cars, when it suited them. My parents paid for me to go to college, and I worked in the summers to raise my spending money. I did that all the way through college, and although my dad bought my first car, the summer after my Junior year in college, I also had to sign a note to pay him back for it, as soon as I graduated.

My daughter is more spoiled than I was, but she has earned that right, and I think that every child needs to learn responsibility and not just feel entitled to free room and board, without something in return.

[dogzr#1]

I can't really speak out of experience because I am only 13, but I can speak on behalf of my brothers. I can say that I might be called 'spoiled' because I don't do much around the house, yet get lots of stuff. I'm not totally spoiled; like I don't whine about how I have to get the newest clothes or whatever. I'm happy if I get my clothes at Wal-Mart! Sorry to get slightly off topic. But, that is what irks me. When girls have like a billion outfits and they don't pay for any of them. I had to use my own money for school clothes, given I didn't earn that money, but I still had a limit.

Ok, now for my brothers' stories. When my brother turned 18, he didn't get a job right away or have to pay for anything in the house. He was still going to college so he could get a good job. Yes, my parents paid for all his stuff but they said that it was at a good price. He was getting an education for a better job. As soon as he finished getting his...is it bachelors? Well he went to college for four years. Anyway, when he finished that, he went out and got a job. He is now a teacher, but still lives with us. He got himself a new truck and will move out as soon as he gets a couple more paychecks.

My other brother whom is 20, also still lives with us. He doesn't pay for many things, if any but he is also going to college. So I guess my parents' 'policy' is that you don't have to earn your own stuff until you finish college. And if they do finish college but can't find a job, they won't kick them out of the house. That's cruel IMO. They might start stealing or selling drugs to actually get enough money to rent an apartment or a place to live. I don't think my brothers are spoiled, but I think they do have enough responsibilities.

Woah, didn't want this thing to be so long!