Don't grow up too quickly!

I'm not sure who this is more about - the kids or the parents...meaning me and my kids, or anyone who can relate. I was watching a show called X-weighted the other day with my daughter. It's a show about weight loss, usually a whole family is involved. In this particular episode it was about a girl, 17, her sister 14, and her parents. They were all trying to lose weight. First off, the Mom in this show was an absolute cow about everything, all she did was bitch and complain. Then the older daughter celebrated her 18th birthday. The parents took her out to the bar with their friends and got her completely plastered. Not only that, but the Mom kept saying "that's my girl" as the kid did shot after shot. I was horrified. Now please don't think I am a total prude - I used to drink too. I don't much anymore, and maybe that is why my opinion is so strong about this.

Why do we have to make the kids grow up so quickly? That kid was eighteen, sure she can experiment with drinking, but to have her parents push it on her, I found that disgusting. From what I gathered on the show, the girl didn't really even want to drink.

Kids only get to be kids for a VERY short while, why can't we just let them play and have fun? Why do we - as the parents - put such adult things on kids at a young age? Dating, sex, drinking - these are all things that are for grown ups, and it should stay that way!

My daughter is almost 12 and I have told her that she is not allowed to date. She is allowed to hang out with boys, like boys, be friends with boys. But there is no "dating". No kissing, none of that stuff. Why you ask? Because it leads to more. Believe me I know. There are girls in her grade dating, kissing, and god knows what else. I know that my daughter has a crush on a boy, we talk about it all the time. He has tried to hold her hand a few times, and she was sort of ok with it, but not so much that she let it be held for very long. Do you think I am delusional to think that she isn't telling me everything? Well I'm not. I stay very close to her, I never judge her, but I also make it very plain to her that I am her MOTHER, not her friend. My job is to keep her safe, answer her questions and make sure she has all the information she needs to grow up to be a smart, independent woman. She is very aware that I love her more than she can imagine, and that she can tell me anything. I am very open and honest with her - to an age appropriate point. I share my opinions with her and I value her opinions. We don't agree on everything, but she always gets an explanation as to why I feel the way I do.

This sounds like an essay for school, so, in conclusion, I think that kids should get to be kids for as long as they can. Let them play, let them goof off. Tell them about drinking, sex, drugs, give them the information so that they aren't stupid or ignorant about things. But why encourage them to do any of these things? They will have the rest of their lives to figure out stuff, to have sex and drink. But for now, let them not have to worry about grown up things like puking their guts out, having sex for the wrong reasons or having their hearts broken.