The world's strictest parents

I understand you wanting to be a friend, but there's something you need to understand about teens. They will push in order to HAVE boundaries. Now a teen who shows responsibility and motivation? With someone like that who isn't going around trying to be lazy and not work to potential etc probably will do better with a parent who gives them lax boundaries and allows them to breathe, but someone who just has no motivation and doesn't achieve the standard at school, doesn't take care of their things or chores at home, and gripes and complains constantly? Someone like that doesn't need a friend, they need a parent and they need to shape up and start being responsible for themselves and doing what their parent(s) expect before they can start making any demands. I would go to the ends of the earth to help out my kid when they are appreciative of what we do for them, including things they NEVER think about like providing a home, food, transportation, and all the juice to run the computer, the gaming systems, the tv, the stereo... they go to school and have friends and do fun things with friends.... but once they start EXPECTING those things as if they are just deserved... wrong. Nothing bothers me more than an entitled person, and I don't care whether that person is three or thirty. Nobody has the right to act entitled, everybody in the end is entirely responsible for themselves, and if they aren't willing to go the distance to show they can be, then they don't deserve anything lol. I realize that what can be expected is age appropriate, but there are still certain expectations, so if those aren't fulfilled, then privelages go. I mean at age 10, even age 5, a kid should be picking up their own messes, their own trash, at least putting their stuff in the hamper and dishwasher, to name a few. Mom and Dad are not slaves, maids, and we don't exist to pick up after kids or take care of their things. So many teens gripe that they don't want to be treated like they are a toddler - well if they have a tantrum or refuse to do expected chores, or don't take care of their things - well, then they will be treated like a toddler. If you don't follow through with expected things, what choice does a parent have but to treat you as if you're a small child who doesn't know any better? If you don't like being treated that way, then fulfill your obligations. Nobody says you have to LIKE it, but you won't benefit if you don't.

No smoking for minors is par for the course, I'd say. I mean I think it's kind of hypocritical for parents to get all over their older teens (like 17ish) for smoking if the PARENTS smoke in front of the teens, but if the parents are non smokers and have always advocated no smoking, the kids should know better. Once they turn 18 AND move out, then it doesn't matter, but I think while they live with you and are minors, they need to not be breaking the law. I think I might actually report my kid if they smoked and continued to do it after I caught them.

I think taking the kids overseas is a good move (stops them running off or playing the system as many of them would in the UK). My own thought is that culture in the UK is pretty much whatever crap is on the TV and very self-centred. I know PLENTY of kids like the ones on the show and all their parents are lax idiots who can barely look after themselves. The nice kids I know are often the children of recent immigrants. Funny that.

Hi hvedra, I think you hiy yhe nail on the head when you mention the parents. If the parents were worth their salt in the first place, the teens would never have cot to the stage they are at.

You are right that consistency is vital. It also helps if the parents explain why there are rules. I often just got told "Because" which isn't helpful and confusing if you can see other kids getting away with whatever it is. My parents were older than those of my peers and whilst I agree they made me do the right thing it was habit not understanding that motivated their strictness. It was very much "nice girls don't do that kind of thing" not any explaination of why, if you see what I mean. The parents in the show are also very loving and supportive and talk through why they find certain behaviours unacceptable and keep going until they get through. A lot of these kids (this is the second series) have parents who don't keep fighting and that kind of thing feels like "they don't CARE" when they are allowed to get away with bad behaviour. I do think a few of the parents could do with a bootcamp too!

well i know of some strict parents, i have some friends, hey wait my parents are strict too! but they have always been good and considerate... never too strict, i guess i am lucky!... as long as parents are not letting out their frustration on their kids and have a good understanding of what their kids need i guess they would make their child feel they have never been very strict.

I think the reason they got through to the two teens is because the strictness is balanced by them being supportive and loving. My parents were strict (and certainly stricter than most of my peers' parents) but not supportive or encouraging so whilst I stayed on the fairly straight and narrow I underachieved because nobody actually gave a hoot as long as the police didn't show up at the door.