Do parents ever know what their kids are up to anymore?

[dontwalkhand]

Do parents ever know what their kids are up to anymore? I have decided to go visit my old high school (Keep in mind, I graduated in 2008!), and even in this SMALL PERIOD of time, lots have changed. Well not that much, but this question does always boggle my mind, even when I was in high school. Maybe I am just more mature than the others.

Do these kids wear their pants saggy in front of their parents?
Do these kids just love to cuss in every other word of their sentences?
Do these kids think bullying a kid who is just sitting their minding his own business acceptable?
Do these kids grab their private parts while just strolling along a hallway in front of their parents?
Saying stuff like "oh my dick is sticky, its hot outside!"
etc.

I really wonder if these kids do what they do at school, at home in front of their parents.

I think that parents should be allowed to surprise visit a high school without their child knowing just to see what they are up to..but unfortunately with the laws we have "For safety" and "disrupting an educational institution" this will never be possible. Most schools around AZ I know of stopped giving visitors passes out, but I was lucky enough to get permission to enter the campus.

And obviously it is not like this behavior stops when they get to college either. I always wonder how these kids do as moms and dads..but somehow, most of people's parents, including mine were stemmed from behaviors like this themselves. It is very mind boggling to a person like me.

[pelicanflip]

I don't think a lot has changed, that sounds just like my old high school.

There are always the kids that are polite and the kids that are not. It just depends on who they hang out with and how they were raised.

"I think that parents should be allowed to surprise visit a high school without their child knowing just to see what they are up to."

That's just plain creepy.

[iGary]

Many parents don't have time/don't give a ****. We get stuck with the result.

[heehee]

"I think that parents should be allowed to surprise visit a high school without their child knowing just to see what they are up to."

That's just plain creepy.

What he said.

It was like that when I went to HS 13 years ago, kids swearing, bullying others, being sloppy with their clothes and I went to a catholic high school. Kids will be kids, I was a pretty bad kid when I was younger, but I turned out just fine. That's what I like to believe anyway. :p:D

Also, swearing can be good for you (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8147170.stm). ;)

[Don't panic]

did they ever?

[Zombie Acorn]

In grade school our class was so bad we had to actually have parents cycle in to make sure the class wasn't acting up. :eek:

I think some parents were more authoritative than others, it never works out in the end though. Once the kids are around their friends they are going to act like their friends do. Best you can do is try to make sure they are hanging with the "right" crowd.

[NT1440]

This question is asked each and every generation. Sometimes people just forget they used to be a kid too.

[Rodimus Prime]

Do parents ever know what their kids are up to anymore? I have decided to go visit my old high school (Keep in mind, I graduated in 2008!), and even in this SMALL PERIOD of time, lots have changed. Well not that much, but this question does always boggle my mind, even when I was in high school. Maybe I am just more mature than the others.

Do these kids wear their pants saggy in front of their parents?
Do these kids just love to cuss in every other word of their sentences?
Do these kids think bullying a kid who is just sitting their minding his own business acceptable?
Do these kids grab their private parts while just strolling along a hallway in front of their parents?
Saying stuff like "oh my dick is sticky, its hot outside!"
etc.

I really wonder if these kids do what they do at school, at home in front of their parents.

I think that parents should be allowed to surprise visit a high school without their child knowing just to see what they are up to..but unfortunately with the laws we have "For safety" and "disrupting an educational institution" this will never be possible. Most schools around AZ I know of stopped giving visitors passes out, but I was lucky enough to get permission to enter the campus.

And obviously it is not like this behavior stops when they get to college either. I always wonder how these kids do as moms and dads..but somehow, most of people's parents, including mine were stemmed from behaviors like this themselves. It is very mind boggling to a person like me.


Umm most of the stuff you just listed I heard when I was in HS. I got out of high school in 2001.

I think it is more the group you hung out with in HS did not say that type of stuff but if you listened back then you would of heard it. one year is not enough time for things to change.

[leekohler]

Do these kids wear their pants saggy in front of their parents?
Do these kids just love to cuss in every other word of their sentences?
Do these kids think bullying a kid who is just sitting their minding his own business acceptable?
Do these kids grab their private parts while just strolling along a hallway in front of their parents?
Saying stuff like "oh my dick is sticky, its hot outside!"
etc.



1. Probably. It's the thing these days. When I was in HS, I spiked my hair and wore parachute pants. Ah the 80's. ;) So what? I see nothing wrong with what kids wear now.
2. Again- it was never that big a deal for me to do so.
3. Now this would get my a** kicked and sent to a shrink. That is NEVER acceptable.
4. Again- been there, done that.
5. My parents as well as myself, said far worse in each others' company when I was a teen. Big deal.

Honestly, I'm waiting for kids to shock me these days. When are they gonna come up with something new that adults hate? It's all been rehash since the 80's.

[OutThere]

If you graduated in '08 then you have changed, not the school. 3/4 of the students were there while you were there...

[InvalidUserID]

Sounds just like my old HS and I graduated in 2002.

As for the parents knowing, I can only speak for what I experienced/saw and that was that my parents and most of my friend's parents were simply too busy earning a living and putting food on the table to be 100% involved in the kid's lives.

This doesn't mean they were involved because they were but I think its unrealistic to think ANY parent can know what their kids are up to ALL THE TIME.

Hell, I was a 4.0 student, student council and all that extra curricular junk that looks good on a college application and I still found a way to cut classes, sneak out, hang out with older kids and all the other bad stuff. Were my parents aware? Nope.

[.Andy]

Do parents ever know what their kids are up to anymore? I have decided to go visit my old high school (Keep in mind, I graduated in 2008!), and even in this SMALL PERIOD of time, lots have changed. Well not that much, but this question does always boggle my mind, even when I was in high school. Maybe I am just more mature than the others.

Do these kids wear their pants saggy in front of their parents?
Do these kids just love to cuss in every other word of their sentences?
Do these kids think bullying a kid who is just sitting their minding his own business acceptable?
Do these kids grab their private parts while just strolling along a hallway in front of their parents?
Saying stuff like "oh my dick is sticky, its hot outside!"
etc.

I really wonder if these kids do what they do at school, at home in front of their parents.

I think that parents should be allowed to surprise visit a high school without their child knowing just to see what they are up to..but unfortunately with the laws we have "For safety" and "disrupting an educational institution" this will never be possible. Most schools around AZ I know of stopped giving visitors passes out, but I was lucky enough to get permission to enter the campus.

And obviously it is not like this behavior stops when they get to college either. I always wonder how these kids do as moms and dads..but somehow, most of people's parents, including mine were stemmed from behaviors like this themselves. It is very mind boggling to a person like me.
Congratulations you're old and sanctimonious ahead of your time. Next you'll be writing emails to networks complaining about the content of television programs.

[Dagless]

They might do. I never swore infront of my parents, and they never swore infront of me. It was just something we never did (but then again both I and them were quite reasonable).
But a few of us went on a couple of small excursions and they would swear on the phone to their parents. So yes. I guess people do indeed act that way infront of their parents.

[opinioncircle]

Many parents don't have time/don't give a ****. We get stuck with the result.

Agreed. Most of what I've seen is a lack of interest. You don't want to go to bed or do your HW? Aight watch TV and leave me alone...

[benflick]

I'm in high school, and honestly the behavior of some, if not most of the kids disgusts me. I don't consider myself extremely mature, however, I'd be willing to bet that I am more mature and civilized than many...:rolleyes:

[Shotglass]

Do these kids wear their pants saggy in front of their parents?Of course, what's wrong with saggy pants?
Do these kids just love to cuss in every other word of their sentences?I do enjoy it, but of course sometimes you have to watch your language in front of people (that you respect) because it might offend them.
Do these kids think bullying a kid who is just sitting their minding his own business acceptable?Bullying is purely biological. Nobody can help it.
Do these kids grab their private parts while just strolling along a hallway in front of their parents?Loose clothes are great and comfortable, but they do have that one downside of disorganizing your private parts. I for one am not too proud to admit I regularly readjust my "junk". But yeah, this is something you should do while nobody is watching. Those who do it in public do it for the shock value/attention. Again, purely biological.
I think that parents should be allowed to surprise visit a high school without their child knowing just to see what they are up to..
Never have kids. Ever. I'm begging you.

[leekohler]

Bullying is purely biological. Nobody can help it.


That's a load of crap. Of course it can be helped. It should be too. Bullies end up messing up their lives very early on if they aren't helped.

[Badandy]

I think that parents should be allowed to surprise visit a high school without their child knowing just to see what they are up to...

And you think having your child subjected to seeing other people wearing baggy pants is going to be more psychologically damaging than his parents interrupting his day in front of his friends to make sure he's alright? I mean, you don't think that would cause the bullying your child would have to put up with to be even worse?

@shotglass: Bullying isn't biological. It's a terrible thing to do committed by kids who aren't well-adjusted enough to leave other people alone.

[Heilage]

Parents don't want to know that their kids have turned into bullies/idiots.

Ignorance is bliss.

[NT1440]

My god, alot of you guys need to go back and review the end of The Breakfast Club, especially the part where the principle is talking about how the kids have changed.

[cleanup]

Don't mistaken your growth for their lack of growth. It's all relative. Pretty soon you'll look back at people who are your age now and think the same thing.

[bruinsrme]

Congratulations you're old and sanctimonious ahead of your time. Next you'll be writing emails to networks complaining about the content of television programs.

I can't agree more.

[Shotglass]

That's a load of crap. Of course it can be helped. It should be too. Bullies end up messing up their lives very early on if they aren't helped.You might have misunderstood me. The reason we bully other people is rooted deeply in our biology, and we can't help that people will always have a biological "reason" to bully other people. This doesn't mean that they should pick up on that and be mean to others, but still, the underlying cause of bullying cannot be removed.

[leekohler]

You might have misunderstood me. The reason we bully other people is rooted deeply in our biology, and we can't help that people will always have a biological "reason" to bully other people. This doesn't mean that they should pick up on that and be mean to others, but still, the underlying cause of bullying cannot be removed.

No- we all understood you perfectly. Bullying is the result of kids who have serious self-esteem issues. Many times, these kids are neglected or abused at home. Bullying is NEVER OK, and is s sign of deeper problems.

[opinioncircle]

No- we all understood you perfectly. Bullying is the result of kids who have serious self-esteem issues. Many times, these kids are neglected or abused at home. Bullying is NEVER OK, and is s sign of deeper problems.

It never is, you're right. However you always have some person or animal taking up on other person or animal in a group.

[rasmasyean]

Do parents ever know what their kids are up to anymore? I have decided to go visit my old high school (Keep in mind, I graduated in 2008!), and even in this SMALL PERIOD of time, lots have changed. Well not that much, but this question does always boggle my mind, even when I was in high school. Maybe I am just more mature than the others.

Do these kids wear their pants saggy in front of their parents?
Do these kids just love to cuss in every other word of their sentences?
Do these kids think bullying a kid who is just sitting their minding his own business acceptable?
Do these kids grab their private parts while just strolling along a hallway in front of their parents?
Saying stuff like "oh my dick is sticky, its hot outside!"
etc.

I really wonder if these kids do what they do at school, at home in front of their parents.

I think that parents should be allowed to surprise visit a high school without their child knowing just to see what they are up to..but unfortunately with the laws we have "For safety" and "disrupting an educational institution" this will never be possible. Most schools around AZ I know of stopped giving visitors passes out, but I was lucky enough to get permission to enter the campus.

And obviously it is not like this behavior stops when they get to college either. I always wonder how these kids do as moms and dads..but somehow, most of people's parents, including mine were stemmed from behaviors like this themselves. It is very mind boggling to a person like me.

Well, judging from your impressions, you appear really really conservative or have been raised in a really conservative environment perhaps with emphasis on some religion as well though not necessarily. What you describe those kids doing is part of “pop culture” phases that come in and out on existence. One day, it’s this…another it’s that. The bullying is a characteristic of human nature that has happened since the dawn of time. Fortunately you happen to have avoided it apparently…either because you were very protected and just go home, etc…or were a big nerd and kept to the business end of school mostly.

FYI, “bullying” happens to adults as well. This is done in a more “economical” sense and sometimes involving legal action. “Power” is often from money (vs. brute) as well as social status. It is often done for some form of financial gain rather than an “ego boost”. You will see.

And one more thing. Parents NEVER have known what their kids are up to. The best they can hope to do is teach them values and hope it sinks in when they are not looking. A kid is not a remote control drone and is ultimately an independent person who will ultimately decide what’s right and wrong and whether or not “small wrongs” are OK in situations. And the truth about it is that not all parents are “right” either. Just because adults have “values”, it doesn’t mean that they are the best principles to adopt. Values differ from culture to culture, social group to social group, and person to person. Sometimes wars are fought over “values” in the extreme case to give you an example.

[Badandy]

The bullying is a characteristic of human nature that has happened since the dawn of time. Fortunately you happen to have avoided it apparently…either because you were very protected and just go home, etc…or were a big nerd and kept to the business end of school mostly.

I don't think this is quite fair. What if he was just a cool person who didn't bully or get bullied?

And one more thing. Parents NEVER have known what their kids are up to. The best they can hope to do is teach them values and hope it sinks in when they are not looking.

Very true.

[rasmasyean]

Sounds just like my old HS and I graduated in 2002.

As for the parents knowing, I can only speak for what I experienced/saw and that was that my parents and most of my friend's parents were simply too busy earning a living and putting food on the table to be 100% involved in the kid's lives.

This doesn't mean they were involved because they were but I think its unrealistic to think ANY parent can know what their kids are up to ALL THE TIME.

Hell, I was a 4.0 student, student council and all that extra curricular junk that looks good on a college application and I still found a way to cut classes, sneak out, hang out with older kids and all the other bad stuff. Were my parents aware? Nope.

Well one thing can be said is that your parents and perhaps some of your peer-group’s parents did communicate to you by example. By working hard to earn a better living for the family the kid sees that and those values are impressed upon the kid. It doesn’t necessarily have to be like “Hey, son, let’s sit down and chat…” American Hollywood ideal scenarios. And as you adopt some of these values you got yourself on the track to become part of the “elite” because they “told” you that you have to “work hard to achieve things that matter” by shear example. And if you did “cut school” and did mischievous things, you obviously controlled it to the point of not harming “your future” while still being able to be a kid…perhaps just like your other over-achieving friends.

[Shotglass]

No- we all understood you perfectly. Bullying is the result of kids who have serious self-esteem issues. Many times, these kids are neglected or abused at home.Sure. Many bullies have problems of their own. But the reason people bully other people is to establish their rank in society, much like animals do. That's biological.
I hope you don't think I'm condoning bullying or something, but I really don't think you understand what I'm saying.

[rasmasyean]

Before you guys start making up more of your own ideas of bullying and bullies because of your personal emotions and perhaps post-traumatic effects from it (lol), here’s a guide that describes it in some detail.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullying

[Badandy]

Before you guys start making up more of your own ideas of bullying and bullies because of your personal emotions and perhaps post-traumatic effects from it (lol), here’s a guide that describes it in some detail.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullying

Is there a reason I need to read that to know bullying is bad?

[spaceboots06]

Do parents ever know what their kids are up to anymore? I have decided to go visit my old high school (Keep in mind, I graduated in 2008!), and even in this SMALL PERIOD of time, lots have changed. Well not that much, but this question does always boggle my mind, even when I was in high school. Maybe I am just more mature than the others.

Do these kids wear their pants saggy in front of their parents?
Do these kids just love to cuss in every other word of their sentences?
Do these kids think bullying a kid who is just sitting their minding his own business acceptable?
Do these kids grab their private parts while just strolling along a hallway in front of their parents?
Saying stuff like "oh my dick is sticky, its hot outside!"
etc.

I really wonder if these kids do what they do at school, at home in front of their parents.

I think that parents should be allowed to surprise visit a high school without their child knowing just to see what they are up to..but unfortunately with the laws we have "For safety" and "disrupting an educational institution" this will never be possible. Most schools around AZ I know of stopped giving visitors passes out, but I was lucky enough to get permission to enter the campus.

And obviously it is not like this behavior stops when they get to college either. I always wonder how these kids do as moms and dads..but somehow, most of people's parents, including mine were stemmed from behaviors like this themselves. It is very mind boggling to a person like me.

I live in NYC and am disgusted when I see kids, on the train, using the "n word" at least twice in every single one of their sentences.

[zap2]

No offense, but do you really think any generation acted the same way in front of their parents as they did with their equals?


Most likely not...its a culture thing,kids have their own things that their parents aren't into.

[rasmasyean]

I live in NYC and am disgusted when I see kids, on the train, using the "n word" at least twice in every single one of their sentences.

Not sure how long you've been in NYC, but that's been a fad for at least 20 years. It's more like common language.

[spaceboots06]

Not sure how long you've been in NYC, but that's been a fad for at least 20 years. It's more like common language.

Yeah, I know. I've became numb to it but am fascinated when people use it and they're less than 15 years of age.

And nobody ever says boo. If I were African American I would open my mouth.

[rasmasyean]

Yeah, I know. I've became numb to it but am fascinated when people use it and they're less than 15 years of age.

And nobody ever says boo. If I were African American I would open my mouth.

If anything, African Americans started it's fad in common language. It prolly has something to do with comming of age of black freedom or something. So the kids started using it in defiance and as an expression to show their immunity to such negative connotations. Initially, it was pretty much used by black ppl to talk about other black ppl. Then it became everyone else, dogs, cats, and even computer characters! :p

[opinioncircle]

Yeah, I know. I've became numb to it but am fascinated when people use it and they're less than 15 years of age.

And nobody ever says boo. If I were African American I would open my mouth.

No you wouldn't. Or if you would, these kids would tell you "y'all do the same, and even worse on MTV". And even though it is no excuse, they'd be right...

I am not calling for ban and stuffs (because I am fundamentally against such reactions) but if my kid would use that word, I would slap him PERIOD. No alternative. Same would go for "cracker"...