Teens Expressing Themselves... how far do we let them go?

I have stretched ear lobes and do not look like someone who is from an african tribe. I find your explanation of modified people insulting. I think if your daughter was smoking, drinking, and popping pills at fifteen you need to reevaluate your role as her father. At fifteen, your daughter shouldn't have that much freedom or access to such thinks.

It's normal for teens to do this for they are often too curious about the world,the new things,everything excited. Sometimes it's good to let them go, let them to go through trouble and correct through them. This period is good for their grow. But we can let them go compeletely, or it will be dangerous,they may go to prison, if so that's terrible. In my opinion, if the things them to is not bad for them than don't stop them just give suggest.

nop;e my teen did not get to do all that stuff he was to look like his great normal stuff and anyway he hated the baggy pants look and the grung look and the peaked hair crap so all was well.hes now a fine grown up man who I am very proud of even if he is out of work.,

Children deserve the freedom of expression and they deserve their respect,but as a parent you have the authority and the right over the child before she/he is 18. all you have to do is to get your child and tell her/him the results of doing that in the future. fine she may look beatiful now, but if that trend changes , what will she be doing then.so talk to her tell her positive and negatives things about what she is doing.

I'm a teen and I think that it's normal for teens to do stuff like that. I'm actaully thinking about dying my hair and getting a piercing(and a tatoo, too) Lol. But I think we'll eventually outgrow those stuff. The best thing that a parent can do during this stage is too guide his/her children. Be close enough so they can call you everytime they need you're help but not too close that they will find you annoying. Give them(us, actually) space to learn. When we do wierd stuff just make sure it's safe and observe how it affects our lives. Most of the times we just figure it out ourselves and leaves the stuff that are actually nonsense. I think I sounded like my grandma. By the way, that's just my opinion.

i know its hard, but you have to set limits!! they will thank you for that later in life... when there not in jail.

i have four teen children and i am happy to say that they are not that creepy on how to express themselves. or maybe because we have different cultures. teens in the US are really very expressive and when they are 16 already they can mostly do what they wanted, with their hair and clothings. i am a single mom and my oldest is 18 years old already. but i always tell them my house my rules. my son expresses himself through drawings. he is very good with that. he has this anime style of hair that is part of self expression but it is not that outrage for me. for me i wont let them go that far when it comes to expressing themselves. or they have to give me good reasons for me to approve what they will do with themselves. piercing is okay for me, but not on the part of the body that will get them to the point that they can not get a job because of that pierce and of course i dont like excessive piercing as well. welxome to mylot vkon i hope you like it here like most of us do

I guess I'm one to allow freedom. I would give her more information. Visit corporate America. There are lots of companies who will give a potential shareholder a tour. Show your step daughter that few money people are freaky. Corporations don't really like freaks either. Teach her about goals, careers, life. When people have lots of information, the decisions are better. If you just restrict freedom, they always do it once they are free. Treat her like an adult with choices and consequences. You might find she will be an adult!

freedom without responsibility has no meaning. freedom does not mean freedom to abuse oneself or others. but in some countries the law and social organizations are hell bent to give complete freedom to kids which more often leads them astray. kids live in fantasy world (they consider themselves as the wisest and they think they can handle everything)and are not able to judge the long term consequences of their acts. at some point of time authority needs to be imposed upon them.

i've seen alot of teen ager same as what your daughter going through. I know its hard, but people i know talk to their daughter and set limits on it. Being dependent an\d having freedom is good because you'll learn from it but too much will make your life a mess

I personally am a teen myself, and I understand everything that your daughter has gone through because I too went through it myself at an even younger age. My mother now lets me express myself in different ways. I pierced my lip myself but she made me wait until school was over. When I did express myself she informs me of the consequences of them so I can make an appropriate decision such as associating yourself with the wrong crowd. You want to let your child have some self expression or she will go into rebellion, just make sure you inform her of the consequences before hand. It doesn't seem like she is too out of control but make sure she stays on the right track as to not backslide into her old habits, and help her keep sight of her goals. :)