DD1 has been trying our patience. Now, I understand that she's learning to be her own person, learning how to live in a world where it seems you're nobody unless you fit in, and it's cool to not like your parents. BUT, it's hard. It's hard for her and it's hard for us.
This weekend she was caught on her cell phone at 4 in the morning talking to her boyfriend. Not only that, but she was talking about things that, most likely weren't too risque, she shouldn't have been. So in addition to the punishment of getting her cell-phone priveledges and IM priveledges taken away for a week, there are also some rule changes. Up until this weekend, she was able to keep her cell phone with her in her room at night, with the understanding that she's not allowed to send/receive text messages or phone calls after 11 during the summer. Well, no longer. Starting next Sunday, she has to give her phone to us at bedtime. We'll charge it for her, and give it back to her in the morning. You'd think she'd be upset about these new rules, and she is, but honestly I think she's upset with herself more than with us. I think she fully understood that if she broke the rules, there would be consequences as we explained to her. She broke the rules and now she has to live by the consequences. I'm really proud of her for understanding that. Lots of kids today don't. They find it easier to blame anyone else besides themselves for their predicaments. DD1 is owning up to it and taking her blows. Maybe we are doing something right after all, huh? J
