Eva wrote:Chai Tea wrote:In real life, I totally expect to be able to talk to a 13 year on on adult matters, they may not understand things like stocks and bonds and credita card ratings, but honestly, they should'nt be that far from it. I certainly don't expect them to get their panties in a twist over the word vagina, and if they tittered or giggled, I ask them what's so funny.
Actually, my son could talk to you about stocks and bonds and credit card ratings, but he and his friends (male or female) would choke up, turn red in the face, start giggling and run out of the room if you used the word "vagina." Embarrassment at sexuality is a normal thing at this age and should be expected...
especially when talking with adults.
Quote:...I'm not going to dumb myself down and talk to a 13 year old like they have lived a sheltered life, when I know they have the potential to be little Lolita's and hell cats.
If my grandmother could cross the continent of Europe and the Atlantic Ocean all alone, find herself a place to live and work at 13 years old, then a 13 year old posting here can handle the word cervix.
I'm very sorry your grandmother had to do that. Comparing her life with today's typical American 13 year olds is not fair, though. They're not at all the same. And you know that, so knock off the unfair comparisons.
I'm not suggesting that anyone "dumb down" their posts. I AM suggesting that 13 year olds do not belong on this forum.
Whoa! I totally forgot how smart your son is!!!! I remember you telling stories about his financial knowledge, and it was really impressive.
Oh no, don't feel sorry for my grandmother. I was very proud of her. I wasn't telling her experience for you to feel sorry for her, I always expect people to be awed by what she was able to accomplish. When I was 13 it hit me what she did when she was my age, and let me tell you, it made me look at her with a lot of respect.
Actually, it's a little strange hearing anyone say "feel sorry for" and "my grandmother" in the same sentence. I wish she was here right now. She'd let you know what she thought about someone feeling sorry for her
I don't have kids, so I have no idea what a "typical" teen life is like. And I really don't understand what's so wrong with comparing. What? Somehow kids today are not expected to show such character? They're "supposed" to live in some kind of unnatural extended childhood? To move forward just a few years, I find it appalling that SOME 18 or 20 year olds can't figure out how to do laundry, or cook a meal. We keep pushing adulthood further and further away. There seems to be this idea that "adulthood bad, childhood good" The satisfaction of being young and being able to understand adult conversation or make intelligent decisions translates into "we're pushing the children too hard".
Is it really too much to ask a 13 year old to write an intelligent sentence? Is it wrong to feel annoyed when you get as an answer "I don't want to"?
"I've been in school all day writing right....I don't want to now"...Jesus Christ that's totally embarassing. That's like the last year of sitting at the childrens table at Thanksgiving. Remember how you couldn't wait to sit with the adults.
You know, childhood is when you're little and running around in the backyard with the sprinkler on.
If this kid wants kid conversation, let her go back to millsberry. If she wants to learn a little something about adult stuff maybe she needs to learn that the world isn't all overly impressed with her. She's gonna have to try a little harder to fit in with the big dogs, and that won't be by saying dumb ass stuff like "you don't know me" and "riiiiiiiiiiggggghhhhtttt"
