By Carl J Mondello

Teenage daughter........
"I hate you!
I wish I was dead!
There's nothing to eat in this house!"
Sound familiar? That's common language from the average teen age daughter.

Teenage son..........
No emotion, no communication, No response to a question.
Eg.. "Joseph. where are you going? "
"Ummm, I don't know."
"Then how do you know which way to turn when you go out the door?"
"Oh.. Tommy's house."
Or...
"My sister's a puny brat."
"I can't stand her! "

Why do they act this way?

Don't worry about it. It is the nature of the beast.

There is a quote attributed to Plato, the Greek Philosopher....."What is happening to our young people? They disrespect their elders, they disobey their parents. They ignore the law. They riot in the streets inflamed with wild notions. Their morals are decaying. What is to become of them?" Hasn't changed much, has it?

I was driving my seventeen year old daughter to High School one day. She was a senior. " Dad, I am seventeen years old. I should be able to stay out as late as I want!"

I gave her the answer you would. She didn't like that. Five minutes later she said,

" I don't have enough clothes."

"Well", I told her, "I go the Mall and I see signs all over the place, Help Wanted. Why don't you get a job there on weekends so that you can buy the things you think you need"?

She answered indignantly, "You want me to work? I am only seventeen!"

There it is. They are neither fish nor fowl. That's why they are on the phone or on their computers all the time. It is a perfect compromise. Comfortably in the nest and out with their friends at the same time.

Teenagers will drive you crazy because they are selfish, narcissistic, immature and inconsiderate.

But don't worry. Cream rises to the top. If you give them love and example and pray hard enough, they, and you, will survive.

I would say to that daughter, described above, "Margaret, your room looks like a landfill. Please clean it." It would go in one ear and out the other. Years later she had her own apartment. We would visit her and it would be immaculate. I sat on her couch one day and she admonished me, "Dad, you're crushing the pillow." There was a little throw pillow behind me. This was the same girl I would plead with not to jump on my couch like that. That it wasn't a trampoline.

So, the little devil grew into an angel I am proud of today with her own teenagers to contend with.

However, these are dangerous and difficult times. It is getting more and more challenging. Teenagers are subjected to temptations and dangers I never experienced. When I was a teenager life was so simple compared to now. Movies, television, computers, music are all sending messages that are morally unhealthy and tempting. My role model was John Wayne, there is Madonna and countless celebrities, sport figures and actors who give permission for drug abuse, promiscuousness, immodesty, alcoholism, adultery and divorce.

As a parent, you must be vigilant and involved constantly. Parents tell me, "I would never violate my child's privacy." I say, "Baloney!" It is a war you are in. Check their computers. Read their diaries. Listen to their phone conversations. Look under the bed, follow them, check up on them.. they have no rights. If they foul up you have to take the consequences. So you have every reason to be on their backs at all times. Believe me, they won't like it. But there will come a time when they will thank you for it..

Perhaps I am generalizing too much. I am sure there are many kids who stay out of trouble and act civilly and responsibly. I say God Bless them. If you can say that about your children you are blessed too. Count your blessings.

But for all you other poor souls. Take heed. Fight the hard battle, keep the course, pray hard and you will one day be rewarded with an adult you can be proud of.

Youth is a wonderful time. Too bad it is wasted on the young.

I have no links as yet. I have a practice at 664 Aaron Court, Kingston, N.Y. 12401. (845) 338 1954. carlbkr@aol.com.
I am a Certified Hypnotherapist and therapist. I have been in practice almost 40 years.