How well do you really know your children?

My favorite saying, They're teenagers gone off to mars, they'll be back around 25! I have two grown sons. While I didn't feel quite like you do, I did find things that I didn't like. And the attitudes did fly. And I did catch them in some lies. Well the oldest anyway. My boys weren't manipulative. It is hurtful to see and hear some of this stuff. It's temporary. The one thing I would not put up with was outright disrespect. I hammered them when their tones were too much or their "know it all" attitudes got out of hand. Punishment was given, then and there! I think it helped that I was quite involved in their activities plus I was a youth leader so all the kids knew me. I am a big supporter of kids, mostly teens. Our house was the hang out, band practice, and sports place for all their friends. With my youngest hubby and I used to joke about it. We'd have to look out the bedroom door before walking to see what bodies might be sleeping out there LOL My oldest is now 26 and the youngest twenty. They still drive me crazy but are loving and thoughtful sons. You'll get there. My thought - Stand your ground when called for and demand respect. They'll be better people for it. It worked for me so far.

Oh my gosh, that is a scary thought for me. Right now at 2 & 6 I know them inside and out and I can't imagine the day where they are strangers to me, or worse, when I am a stranger to them. As we raise them, that very thought and worry is never far from our minds but we always think that we are different. Our kids are different. We won't end up like that. I guess it is possible no matter how hard we tried to do all the right things. It is so sad to me that a few bad seeds can ruin the very things we have worked so hard for for the last umteen years. I feel for you for I'm sure I will join you there in the future. I guess that is when the tough love comes in. Only the question is, is it tougher on them or us?

We all would think we would like to know our children,we would like to think that the things that we taught them somehow stuck..haha..I have found that in your childs life you will find that your children will disappoint you at times...then sometimes they will surprise you..Now that i live with my daughter ,i have seen her in action ,like when she is talking to her children or when they have their friends over and a conversation comes up,i find that she always reverts back to her teachings that we taught her at home...I did not know this because it appears she has changed but its only only the surface,because deep down whe the going gets tough ,she has the values that i taught her...I think when they get to adulthood they seem to go back to your tachings..Some don't but i think what we instilled in them still has a lot of value..I also have one child that is astray but i keepinh hoping for the best..All we can do is raise them & hope it sticks..

I have two sons and yours sounds like they are pretty normal! LOL You will become the supermom that knows everything again around the age of 20-25 depending on the routes they choose. My oldest son discovered that I was smart again at about 20 years old. Now my youngest which is just going off to college is still in limbo. He's a little nervous about the big move so I'm semi-stupid right now.LOL Stay involved and aware of what they are doing and they'll be fine but they'll have to discover that independence first! As far as their goals go...you can't know what they are because it will take them a while to figure it out themselves!