John and I have talked a lot about how we will be able to keep an eye on our kids when they are teenagers. We want our kids to WANT to hang out at our house. We are not sure however how to accomplish that. Do we buy all the cool toys? Have endless supplies of junkfood on hand? I don't know but if any of you have suggestions we would love to hear them.
At my house growing up we certainly didn't have all the latest gadgets (I remember begging my parents to get an answering machine because we were the ONLY family who didn't have one.), and we rarely bought prepared food, but my parents did do one thing that made our house a frequent place to hang out. My friends were always invited to come over. After Saturday night dances it was always a given that friends could come over for ice cream. Most of my friends wouldn't be allowed to have a large group of teenagers show up at 11:30 at night (it helped that I'm the youngest therefore there were no younger sibling to wake up at my house). But my parents never complained.
I remember one particular time after a dance a large group was at my house. A few people asked me for a ride home afterwards and my car was full. When things were winding down and everyone was going home, one friend had waited until the last minute to ask me for a ride home. Not only was my car full but this particular friends lived across town about 20 minutes away. So in the middle of the night I woke up my Dad to ask for his help. If it were me woken up in the middle of the night I'm sure the scene would not be pretty. But my Dad didn't complain. He just quietly took everyone home. I didn't even get a lecture.
As a parent I can see how it could get really annoying to have kids over in the middle of the night all the time. I'm glad my parents were willing to put aside their comfort for me. And I am especially glad that my Dad was willing to help me with out lecturing me. Glad that I was safe.
5 comments:
My house as a kid was the hang out for my brothers and all there friends and I asked one of my brothers friends recently why they liked to hang out at our house and he said one of the reasons was we always had Dr. Pepper and Little Debbies! So I guess junk food helps! It also that my mom made it a easy place to hang out too!
You are so right on!! My dad was the same way.
I think you hit the nail on the head. Just keep inviting kids over to your house and take an interest in them and they want to be at your house (pretty soon you are wondering what you were wishing for!)
PS look forward to seeing you this weekend.
Rebecca, what are you talking about? We never had people over.
What a great dad! I'm nervous for those teenage years. I think I'm already the uncool mom, so basically I don't stand a chance by the time they are 16! I guess I better invest in some Little Debbies...
I remember going toy your house as a kid and trying unsweetened homemade yogurt for the first time....I will never forget that taste. I also remember hanging out at your house after school and playing Frogger on your computer....Those were good days. I think what will matter to your kids hanging out at home is their comfort level. Just knowing they can come to you guys (like you knew you could go go your dad) will make them feel at ease in hanging out at home.
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