You have to be! My son is 11 and reaks of colonge in the mornings before school. I ask him why he has all that on and he tells me " I have to be Friday night fresh mom" even on Monday morning. :}

At one time, (a long long time ago) I dated someone a few years younger and they were still a minor. I was the one who obeyed her parents more than she. If they said 10:00, it was 10:00 an no arguments.

Your son's girlfriend should really pay more attention and appreciate your rules.

I have heard so many mom's and dad's say they gave their child a cell phone so they can always call them to make sure they are were they are suppose to be at....HaHaHa...I do not know what planet they are from BUT if they call them to check to see were they are at the child could tell them they are at the book store and really they may be at the bowling alley or a pool hall....When I tell these mon's and dad's that they always say I trust my child...My child would always tell me the truth....I trust mine too...BUT I was young once and my dad thought I was a angel...Most the time I was BUT if I could get by with something I would sure try...All kids do...Always trust your children ...BUT always stay a step ahead of them because even the best child will try to get away with something......

Our two boys are only 3 and a half, and almost two, with another baby on the way. There is no telling what it is going to be like when they get into the pre-teen stage.

My husband and I have cell phones, but that is the only gadget we have; no Ipods, GPS systems, etc. We try to keep it simple.

I'm sure when they become pre-teens they will be allowed a cell phone only if they keep their grades up, and maintain good disciplined behaviors.

We'll see. =)

I used to think that one reason kids wanted to have babies so early was so they could get the super powers that come with being parents.

(I wish!)

The moms,especially,seemed to have ESP or super-vision because they knew EXACTLY where we were,what we were doing and what we were thinking.

I'd be out with my buddies and get called to the phone.

"You've got enough jeans." or "Bring home some fabric softener."

How did my mother know we were at Fred's or Sullivan's or Handy Dandy?

"Did you ever get your friend's cows back up?"

"I'm glad you didn't go to Tullahoma without checking with us first."

I could never get away with anything.

It was just like what framestraight said.

The mamas I knew (and quite a few dads) could not only have found Bin Laden,they'd have had a "talk" with him before he ever started trouble.

"You don't need any weapons of mass destruction.

You could put your eye out.

I don't care if all the other kids are starting a jihad.

If all your friends went on suicide missions,would you blow yourself up,too?"

They could have set up playdates between Palestine and Israel or Northern and Southern Ireland.

"You can just cut that fighting out right now.

If you can get along for half an hour,we'll grill some burgers and have ice cream.

If you're good all afternoon,we might stop and get you some comic books."

We got the message that the amount of freedom we had depended on how much good sense we showed.

If we behaved in a responsible manner,we were cut a lot of slack even when the world took on a dangerous edge.

If we were surly,reckless or dim-witted,we were treated as if we had the common sense of a turkey chick.

(Prisoners with ankle bracelets have more freedom.)

Reward and punishment weren't arbitrary.

We were told "yes" unless there was a good reason for "no".

You could present convincing arguments to change their minds or work with them to work around a problem but there was NO whining or backtalk.

It wasn't about age.

It was about reality.

Grown-ups have to do their chores and watch their money,too.

Adults have to choose friends wisely,keep their word and let people know what they're doing.

(Mom or Dad could have a stroke or a car wreck as easily as kids could fall off their bike or run into a molester.

EVERYone had to provide an itinerary and call if they were going to be late.)

We were trained for the days when our parents weren't going to be controlling our every action.

(But,somehow,we didn't expect we were going to be let off the hook any time soon.)

I used to think that the stork or whoever gave parents instant infallibility when they had children.

(Rather like being appointed Pope.)

I didn't get to keep that illusion long but there are still families around who succeed enough to keep the myth going.

Thank you for asking. We are due Sept. 1st but the wife has a history of pre term pregnancies. We expect it to happen in mid August. Its a little girl so you can bet I will monitor heavily.