I was "sheltered" growing up. I wasn't allowed to go to parties. I really wasn't allowed to go out with friends very much at all. My mom always knew where I was, made me check in all the time, and if I didn't answer my phone I was in big trouble. I went to private school where we had to wear uniforms, had strict rules, and weren't allowed to deviate from norms. Honestly, I think the whole movement against "sheltering and protecting" your teen is a load of crap. I guarantee I was one of the easiest teen girls to raise because of the way my parents raised me. I never smoked. I never drank. I never did drugs. I never had sex. I kissed a boy once before college. I never got a speeding ticket. I never was out past the time I was supposed to be home. I hung out with a good group of people from church and stayed away from the kids at school that were trying to be rebellious. Then, I went to college, did a few of those things. I smoked a few cigarettes when I was 21. I drank off and on, but often times wouldn't touch alcohol. In fact, the months leading up to my 21st birthday, I was on 8 months of not a single sip of alcohol. I drank a bit when I was 22, but then stopped again and only had a few on special occasions. I smoked weed once when I was 21. I don't slut it up, despite the incessant polls on here with the option "Jessica is a slut." I mean, seriously, why do we feel the need to allow children and teens so much freedom? I am who I am because this is the way I want to be. I don't want to drink. I don't want to smoke. I don't want to sleep around. Those are the things that are a danger to this society (well, not smoking so much. That's more of a health concern). I think we are too concerned with letting children be their own people instead of enforcing rules that are meant to protect them. I felt this way before I had a baby too. Society is too politically correct. Yes, we should be open minded and what happened to the child this thread is based upon is awful. The thing is, though, it's very hard to teach children to be accepting of differences. That's something they have to learn on their own. All we can do is add our guidance by telling them it's ok to be different. If my kid wants to dress a certain way outside of school, then fine. I won't let them dress in drag, but they can have some options and choices. Kids and teens NEED rules though and that's why this society is failing. We are loosening up too much.

I don't know how or why, but we're talking about two very different yet very similar things here. Something's not fitting together quite right. It's a little frustrating. Oh well.

from knowing jessica on these boards, i can say i am definately against a child being raised in the same fashion she was.... i mean no offense at all to jessica, but i'm sure we all know enough about her to understand the confusion she had with her own identity through college...

blue's b-day party a few years ago was my first impression of jessica, not exactly a good one

though i think more highly of her now

wait...what was this thread about?

you're a confused little boy still.

i disagree, and i wasn't trying to start an arguement with you. i'm just saying that you're proof that your own theories about how to raise a child are flawed.

you dont know me, brandon. plain and simple

blah blah blah. we've seen enough of your posts here to know enough.

Yeah because I'm such a raving lunatic. My point is, I was one hell of an easy teenager for my parents to raise. In college, I didn't get into near as much trouble as most college girls do. If you think otherwise then you don't know shit about me.

....

Not being an ass, but the "big" thing you did is something I doubt most college girls do (without being paid by a director/producer, at least).

say waah!?!? do tell!

nah, I won't repeat it.

Thought it was common board knowledge though, lol.

ooo! ooo! i know!!! pick me! pick me!

Like I said: I won't say it...

whatever. you all make it sound a lot worse than it was.