Overprotective parents....

[birdgirl73]

I agree that with later adolescents you've got to loosen up the rope and let them do their thing and take risks. My husband and I sometimes disagreed on this. If they've proven they're responsible by not getting in trouble and keeping their grades up, then that, to me, means a good deal of freedom is in order. I mean this for older kids who're past driving age.

My husband is the more stern parent who tended to want to issue pre-emptive restrictions to prevent the risk of mistakes from ever occuring in the first place. That was what, I know, bred resentment on occasion in our boy, who certainly made his share of mistakes but seemed to be able to learn from them and then be allowed to proceed safely. I always believed in a longer leash, whereas Dave was always wanting to keep it reeled in in the first place. Fortunately, we're mostly through those leash-limit times now.

[cannabis=freedom]

I wasn't allowed to use the stove until I was 18. My mom wonders why I'm such a bad cook these days

Exactly! Now, if she had let you use the stove from a young age...

you may possibly have received some minor burns, but those would all be healed and you'd actually know how to cook and also know what not to do.

Great example.

[birdgirl73]

I wasn't allowed to use the stove until I was 18. My mom wonders why I'm such a bad cook these days

Was she afraid you were going to burn the place down or something? That makes me sad!

Didn't she ever cook with you and work with you in the kitchen till she could see you knew what you were doing? That was always one of my favorite mom-son activities, cooking with him. We had some of our best talks during those times, too.

[Hardcore Newbie]

Was she afraid you were going to burn the place down or something? That makes me sad!

Didn't she ever cook with you and work with you in the kitchen till she could see you knew what you were doing? That was always one of my favourite mom-son activities, cooking with him. We had some of our best talks during those times, too.

She never taught me to cook, like the only thing my parents didn't do with me :P

I mean I'm alright I just can't make big fancy meals without lots of practice from a cookbook

[birdgirl73]

I mean I'm alright I just can't make big fancy meals without lots of practice from a cookbook

Aw, heck, you're not alone there. If I try something big and fancy, I still need to practice, too, and to reference a cookbook, and I've been cooking for others since the early 80s. Sometimes I need to practice even if it's not big and fancy. Like with baking and candy-making. Or a meal that has more than four dishes where they all have to turn out ready at the same time.

I'm 16 and not allowed to use the stove or oven anymore. I still do at night to make pancakes or potato wages. Last time i made potato wedges i ended up with 2nd degree burns all over my hand and having to mop the floor at 3 am

Gmoneyapplesauce, sorry about your burns! Did you learn some new safety technique from that experience? If so, then here's hoping that won't happen again in the future.

[nibbler]

As a mammy to three boys I have to say that I give them their freedom. They are 8,7 and 3.

As a child there was 7 kids in our family 4 girls and three boys. The boys where allowed travel and leave home to seek yonder or sow wild oats whatever way you want to look at it. At 17 i wanted to go to Germany to work as an aupair. He took me to court I never got to germany I also tried again at 20 to move to london again he intervened. This man was /is an enormous bully I love him he is my father but I do regret him stopping me. Not believeing in me.

So with my children I do things differently. I choose to let them choose obviously I have boundries but I heard NO!!!! so much as child I hope I never want to control there every movements. It's stifling.....