Am I the only one with a well-behaved teenager?

[Anonymous]

I have a teen DD alike the OPs. The majority is just her nature and disposition. The smaller part is parenting and her environment.

[Anonymous]

Mine are both easy, well behaved teens. They can butt heads with me at times which can be aggravating but it isn't over big things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s pretty risky to make such broad generalizations based on your experience with one child. All three of mine have the same parents and are very different people.

Amen to that.

[Anonymous]

Kids need to find their own way. I am sure they will do something crazy in the next few years. If they don't, I would be concerned.

[Anonymous]

I have 3 boys. I am far far away from a helicopter parent. My oldest and my youngest are so easy going and do fantastic in school. My middle one is such an incredible challenge to us. He questions everything, refuses to do many things we ask, puts minimal effort in school. He is also the most intelligent out of my 3 kids. We thought of ourselves as competent, intelligent, supportive parents, but I have had to read more parenting books than I could have ever imagined for my middle child. Sometimes you get luck and get kids that find it easy to follow rules, other times you get kids that are refuse to accept them.

[Anonymous]

I had a kid who was selected student of the year for the school. Following year developed serious depression and anxiety. You never know what the future holds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the teenagers I know are great, responsible young adults.

They don't know how to sweep, mop, dust or mow lawns in this area.

I will give you that one.

My 12-year old began a lawn mowing service this summer. My kids shovel the elderly neighbors driveways and sidewalk without being told. I have boys that are straight A students, excel at sports, well-mannered, aren’t addicted to the phones (12-year old can only text on his).

We live in a very HHI/million dollar neighbor. The kids are good kids, but many are very spoiled. They also don’t do chores. The parents outsource everything.

I do think there are a lot of great kids out there. They aren’t all like your daughter describes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a teen DD alike the OPs. The majority is just her nature and disposition. The smaller part is parenting and her environment.

She will be one of the wild ones in college. That type usually is...

[Anonymous]

So much depends on their group of friends. Be thankful your child found a good group!!

[Anonymous]

Yes.

Yes, OP.

Your child, and your child only, is the only well behaved teen around these here parts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 3 boys. I am far far away from a helicopter parent. My oldest and my youngest are so easy going and do fantastic in school. My middle one is such an incredible challenge to us. He questions everything, refuses to do many things we ask, puts minimal effort in school. He is also the most intelligent out of my 3 kids. We thought of ourselves as competent, intelligent, supportive parents, but I have had to read more parenting books than I could have ever imagined for my middle child. Sometimes you get luck and get kids that find it easy to follow rules, other times you get kids that are refuse to accept them.

I always used to say "We thought we were the perfect parents...then we had our 2nd"

[Anonymous]

LOL, I was a great, responsible, well-behaved teen too. Boy did I do some shit that my parents didn't know about...

[Anonymous]

I don’t have teens yet, but I wouldn’t assume it’s all your great parenting. Maybe you can be so easy because you have an easy kid. I’ve got two kids who I parent the same way but are very different. If I’d just had the first I’d be patting myself on the back all the time about my parental awesomeness. But the second is a whole different ball game so I know that most of how they are turning out is them, not me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have teens yet, but I wouldn’t assume it’s all your great parenting. Maybe you can be so easy because you have an easy kid. I’ve got two kids who I parent the same way but are very different. If I’d just had the first I’d be patting myself on the back all the time about my parental awesomeness. But the second is a whole different ball game so I know that most of how they are turning out is them, not me.

+1000. Same situation here.

[Anonymous]

I would have described our youngest exactly as OP has when she was the same age as OP's daughter. Ten years later she's telling us some pretty amazing stories about what she and her friends really did at age 16. She's fine and all, but OP: stop being so smug. You know less about your teenager than you think you do. We all know less than we think. Just hope that luck stays on your side.