| Rebecca5 |
| (Carpal \'Tunnel) |
| 10/06/06 07:27 PM |
Re: Preteen daughter putting friends before family
|
I'm not really sure why you allow her to refuse. If she doesn't have a fever and isn't vomiting, she's well enough to ride in the car and sit through dinner. She skipped Grandma's for Homecoming? She's in 7th grade, right? I mean...it's not *her* Homecoming or anything. I think a compromise would have been in order....."You may go to the game on Friday night, but we'll be leaving for Grandma's on Saturday morning."
This "phase" apparently goes on for anywhere from 3 to 10 years or so, depending on your child.
A certain amount of autonomy and focusing on friends is part of growing up. Constant disrespect is NOT. That Disney World thing would have made me livid. Miss 12 would have found herself with a babysitter, like all of the other petulant children.
You need to step-up and be her parent. You are not her friend. She has plenty of friends. If she doesn't "like" what you have to say...tough crapola. It's good that she has nice grades, but being respectful of her family is also a responsibility. If her responsibilities are too tough to handle, she needs to lose some privileges.