I am doing a report on Parental Guidance and how it affects our youth.  Can anyone give an example to how the guidance of parents helped them become who they are.  What could your parents have done diffrently?  What is the definition of a good parent?
204828
Parental guidance is key in the development of youth.  The home environment is where we form the foundation of who we are.  You learn values and discipline (or the lack thereof) from your parents either conciously, or more often, unconciously.  Your view of the world is shaped by your parents, but ultimately you make the choice as an adult to accept that view or not.  Your self-esteem and confidence can either be built or detroyed by your parents.  My definition of a good parent is one who provides for their children when they cannot provide for themselves (not will not provide a.k.a. laziness) give them discipline until such time as they develop self-discipline, and help them become good people who make good choices for themselves and then eventually help others, like their own children.
249826
they are your parents and parents don't always see things the way we want them to. But they almost always have our best interest at heart. Lot's of times they have been in similar situations and can draw from their own experiences when making decisions concerning their children. I would just be glad that they care enough to have a say in my life there are so many kids out in the world today that  have no one to care or direct them in  their life choices. They are to busy doin drugs or partying to care what their kids need or don't need. Show them that you are Trust worthy and dependable. You really have to work at these things. But when they know that they can depend on you to keep your word and do what needs to be done.......Then they will trust your decisions more. Good luck and God Bless.
648852
From my experience, coming home late or breaking curfew was a major way of testing my parents trust. Considering your ages, I am surpised that your parents are so restrictive. Ask yourself, what is this 'bad' that they think you're doing? Did your parents come from deeply religious families? Were your parents also restricted by their parents? What about her parents? It may not be fair, or make a whole lot of sense these days, but that could explain some of their methods. Do you or your girlfriend have troubled pasts, maybe trouble with the law? Did you ever have a truancy problem with school? Don't think that I am blaming their behavior on you, I just want you to think of all  possibile reasons. It almost sounds like you two live a bit far away from eachother, and that might explain why you're only allowed to see eachother twice a week, and talk on the phone for only half an hour a day. Have I nailed it yet? No? Okay, parents may not seem to make any sense some of the time, but they are your parents. Like it or not they have say into your relationships. The more you show respect for them and their wishes, usually the more trust they'll have for you. So if you're considering sneaking around after dark or anything like that, don't try it. Chances are you'll get caught, and just imagine how often you'd get to see her then? Probably not at all. I know this is a hard time for you both, you're almost legal adults, but until you turn the magic age of 18, you just have to bite down and endure this. You will get through this, just be patient with her and your parents. I am going to assume that talking with your parents wont make much of a difference, but there is nothing wrong with trying. Ask them what it is that they fear so much, and do your best to put that fear to rest. Assure them that you intend to follow their wishes, and do so when you're out with her. If they see that you're true to your word, the less likely they are to shorten the leash. I get the feeling that their fear is your sexual activity. It is my personal opinion that you two are at the ages when your sexuality is your business, however a parent will feel like your business is always their business. You can be 50 years old, and they'll still consider you their baby. Being that your sexuality is your business, I hope you wont mind if I give you a piece of advice: protect you and your girlfriend and use a condom every time. Anyway, you will get through this, I promise. Good luck.
590077
As an adult who was recently a child, I can sympathize with parents thinking that they understand what's going on in their child's head (my mother still thinks that), and with parents making decisions that don't seem right, and sometimes aren't. Parents are people and make mistakes, however, you should stop to consider that you'd be much worse off without them. They might make decisions that cause you to miss out on things, and they might make you do things that you don't like, but they are older and wiser, and can make more informed decisions. This does not mean that they will always be right, and if you think they are wrong, you shouldn't be afraid to discuss it with them. However, screaming or throwing a fit would only show that you aren't mature enough to make very many decisions for yourself. You should have a say in what you want to do, and I'm almost positive that, if you think about it, you do. Also, if you gracefully accept some things your parents say that you don't agree with, they're more likely to let you make more decisions, or at least more heavily weigh your opinion.
593991
We have been very lucky with our two children. I don't remember every telling our children lies, but telling them things that they can accept at their age. They now both know of our party lives, the deaths of our friends or accquaintances because of how we partied. Although we were not "heavy" partiers, we grew up with many that did. We (the now parents of two fantastic kids over 20) did many things that we should not be alive, and we told them everything we could of how lucky we are since in our high school gradutes consisted of:\nkids that died in car wrecks - drunk driving\nkids that died of overdoses - drug expermintation\nkids that died of being dumb - sniffing rat poison thinking it was cocaine\nkids that are quadrapaligic - being struck by drunken drivers\n\nLike I said, we were lucky. We grew up in a SMALL town with very little crap we had to deal with like gangs and things like you had to grew up with. But still had to find out about life the hard way.\n\nOur philosophy was to talk, talk, talk. Know exactly where they were 24/7. Have them "check in" every hour when they were at that we had questions about. When our children's friends came over, we MADE them check in with their parents. When we were asked questions, we answered them as truethfully as their age could bear. We would call the other parents before a "stay-over" when we were told it was ok with them and we made sure we met all of their friends. Although we have no control over whom, it would give us a better picture of what we were going to try to sway one way or the other.\n\nIHOPETHISHELPS\nPaul
206617
Congratulations! Don't be afraid. The parents have chosen you because of your character. It's an honor. The biggest responsibility and the most important is, in the unlikely event that the parents are for some reason unable to provide a nurturing environment due to death or sickness, you will be expected to intervene and provide that.
132692
I blame the parents. They need to crack the yardstick. I got my rear smacked a few times and it made me be a better parent to my kids cause I didn't turn out to be some spoiled snot that thought I should be able to get away with everything. The T.V. and the web has plenty of filth that the kids have access to while Mom's at the career.Sorry, but if you plan a family I feel one parent should stay home and raise them and if you can't afford kids don't have them until you can or don't have more than one !
420397
Although our families are a great influence in our upbringing and how we are raised \n\nAs an adult you sometimes have to break the hell away and just do what you want to do and what makes you happy. Sometimes parents arent supportive in our carreer choices and alot of times because they pay for our education we bend our desires their way but I say to follow your dreams and do what you want to do in life no matter whaty your parents dreams are for you. Maybe you will be making a mistake and they will have the opportunity to say I told you so so what it is your mistake to learn from. If they dobt like it so what this is what growing up and becoming an adult is.\n\nI wanted to go to schoo for law enforcement after highschool because I was married and a young mother my family was agaisnt it, and my parents refused to pay for my tution so I went into business management. Here I am 15 years later going back to school for Criminal Justice because thats what I really want to do. So if you want to waste you time doing what other people think is best for you then go ahead but I garuntee your true desire will never go away. Dont waste your time just do what you want even if you regret it later & its hard work,at lease you would have gotten it out of your system
170232
Peer presure.  Some may think there is nothing better to do.wether or not parents have discussed it with their children doesn't make that much of a difference.  Kids are gonna go on a do whatever their friends are doing. The only thing a parent can do, is teach their children, and hope they make the right choices.
34287
If I were the youth pastor, I would give the following response...\n\nTo honor your mother and father is not always to "obey". You could say, "Mother, Dad, I appreciate your input--I honor and respect your advice highly, but in this case, I think it would be in my best interest to..." What parent, in their right mind, would not feel honored? Parents want their children to make intelligent choices, not be micromanaged on every decision or dilema.\n\nNow, first, if you are under their roof, you are under their authority and care. You must take this in to account. If you live on your own, you are under your own rules for living. If you are under the legal age to live on your own, you are under your parents guidance and care.\n\nOK, let's say you honor your parent's wishes and skip the youth group event. What message have you sent? That you care about your parents will and opinion--even if it is wrong or goes against your faith. You value God's command to honor your parents--even though your faith has brought a division among the family. You have provided a far better witness of your faith by NOT attending, than you would BY attending. Do you see? Whatever you missed at the youth group event, God will restore one-hundredfold later because of your obedience at the present time.\n\nI would advise, don't go. And tell your parents it is because you honor their opinion. If they tell you to drop your faith in Christ, then you can break out the sword and say, "No." and go against their counsel.
57113
It depends how the relationship between the parent and student is. You know all those drug commercials about the bossy parents who try to control the lives of their kids? I have seen by experience that those parents usually create the problems that they are suspecting, because the student thinks "If they already think I'm going to do drugs / sneak out / etc, why not just do it?" On the other hand, parents who are open with their kids, and firm but fair, and give good non judgemental advice usually have a pretty good chance of influencing decisions.
191124
I completely agree.\n\nFirst of all, do parents sit down and actually talk with their children?  When their child has a different opinion from their own, do they discuss it?  \n\nWhen I was kid and had an issue with someone (or something) my parents would ask me why I felt the way I did, what were the motivating factors behind my feelings?  They then would challenge me to put myself in the other persons shoes, to come up with possible reasons why the other person would act the way they do.  I learned very young that it takes all kinds of opinions, and that every one of those opinions is absolutely, 100% correct, at least for that person.\n\nPeople just don't listen anymore.  They aren't willing to take a step back and entertain the idea that they may actually be wrong...or at the very least, that there are other ways to view things.\n\nI, for one, am a talker....I talk to my kids.  They know they are free to feel the way they do but they must learn to give others that same courtesy, respectfully.
280168
I think the more parents get involved, the better. However it would be a positive involvement like they shouldn't force their children or be strict with them about studies. I have finished my studies and I can remember that from the day one till my last day I used to tell each and everything about my school and studies to my both parents because they were never strict. In fact in my exams they used to say that I should not take exams as a matter of life and death and keep myself happy because happiness matters more than good grades. Even if I got bad grade they would say that its OK I can do better if future. They have always encouraged me
478385
I'd start out by saying something like people need to take responsibility for their actions and continuing to point a finger isn't going to fix anything.  It might be hard to admit that their kids did something bad cause then it might mean that they aren't being very good parents.  Pointing a finger of blame may be the easiest way for them to not admit they aren't doing a good enough of job.
653173
Glad you asked, although it is probably too late to help someone if they are already a teen. SO, it is the responsibility of everyone in our society to instill values in children from birth. Monkey see, Monkey do ; parents need to be good role models, turn off the television and spend time with their families !\nThat is exactly how you help teen-aged boys ! ...... AND girls !\nGood luck.
163587
My parents were negative influences.  They fought all the time and my dad would beat my mother up.   (later in life, I stopped him with a knife to his hand)  My mom's idea of retaliation was to cheat on him with several other men.  I was brought up in an angry home, and I was an angry person for many years.  The positive influence in my life is Jesus.  I'm still not the way I'd like to be, but my belief in him keeps me pretty much in line.
329533
It is a strange thought, the idea that people only ever know 1/2 of what they should, it means that all things are only ever half done, it makes you wonder when you go flying etc.\n\nBUT i think that this is  only true of SOME people, i choose to do what i am doing now, i have no parents pressuring me.\n\nIt makes you think about the boundaries of being  "good" parent.\n\nVery deep.