Things We've Done Wrong As Parents # 5

The list continues. . . .

Not making a clear distiction between different privileges at different ages.

WHAT?? You might be saying.

Let me explain.  I know this sounds very vague.  

Our daughters are 2 years apart. They have similar interests and many common friends.  

Kelsey is 18--or will be next week.  Courtney is 16.  

As they were growing up, it was just easier to let them do the same things.   I have always believed that there are some things that you should have to wait for.   I always thought that our girls should have different bedtimes and priviledges (you know--age comes with priviledges . . .)

But that really never panned out.

So, now, when we try to enforce rules like that, they don't go over very well.

Case in point. . . .

A movie that the girls really want to see comes out this week.  They are really excited about it.  The first showing is on a school night at midnight.  Kelsey and some of her friends would like to go.  We said okay. She has never done that before, but, she is 18 and it is time to loosen some of the strings a little.  

BUT--of course, Courtney wants to go as well.  We said no. 

She was so disappointed--still is actually.

To her defense,she did take it pretty well (after her initial shock), but is sad none the less.

If we had been doing a better job of this along the way, it would have been much easier.  If I had it to do all over again, I'd start early making clear rules and priviledges for appropriate ages.

Comments

[Nick]

Can you please explain this to Nico?

[Kathleen]

You did the right thing---seriously--age does bring privileges---and, of course, the Nelson's did this perfectly---just ask our girls, I'm sure they'll tell ya. (oh, and don't tell Courtney I said you did the right thing---she'll be mad at me!) but you did!