Moms, maybe you have the answers!

Philippines
December 15, 2006 5:40pm CST
When it comes to raising children, when is it too strict and when is it too lax? I couldn't seem to do it right with my 17 year old. Lately, he is giving me nothing but headaches. The worst was yesterday when I received the phone bill and I found out I now owe the phone company $168.35 (PHP P8300.00) for calls I did not make. Apparently, he calls his girlfriend and some other girls' cellphones using the land phone. Here in the Philippines, the toll charges are more expensive calling a cellphone through the land phone than calling long distance land phone to land phone. I have been supportive of my son, even if I really don't agree with some of his choices like giving up his class ranking (he was 4th over-all) for basketball. I thought as a parent, I have no right to rule over my children's lives by making decisions for them, that all I can do is back them up and be there for them in case they'd fail. I thought I have been a good mom, I thought I have shared enough wisdom with him and I thought I have a pretty open relationship with him, but now that all of these has happened, I am starting to doubt my capability as a mother, let alone as a stepmother. I'll ask the same question I asked my husband yesterday, how come we (parents) would never seem to know when we're doing it right? How come just when we think we're doing good, we still ain't? I hope I'm not getting any of you confused...
1 response
@remaster74 (4064)
• Greece
15 Dec 06
You have to reduce his allowance and tell him that this reduce is for you to be ab;e o pay the bills. He will see that you are in trouble and let's hope he won't do it again.