Quote Originally Posted by Billionfold
Look at yourself when you were young. Did you make it out ok? I believe in giving kids a certain amount of freedom. Now I'm not saying let a 5 year old go party hardy rock and roll, but after they become teenagers, give them some space. Let them make some mistakes. That doesn't mean keep your eye off of them, just try not to invade or distress.
Making it out ok isn't the point. He doesn't want his son to go through the same things he did. I made it out ok, actually I've done pretty well for myself, but it was a long hard road to go from teenage burnout to where I am now. I know I don't want my own daughter going down that same long hard road.

My daughters only 3 now but I'm already grappling with the question of what I'll do if she starts smoking. On the one hand I don't want to be a hypocrite but on the other hand I want her life to be better than mine. As a (good) parent you want to give your child the world, and protect them from all the evils in it. You don't want to see them get into any situation where they "make it out ok". I hope this doesn't sound patronizing, but this just isn't something you can't truly understand until you've held your own newborn baby in your hands.