Is this overly strict parenting?

Question

I'm 16, and I feel like my parents are overly strict, although I could be wrong. I'm a good kid - I've never drank, smoked, or done drugs, or done anything really sexual. I get good grades and am very involved in extra-curricular activities. BUT I am not allowed to go to people's houses unless their parents are home. Not just for parties, but even to just watch a movie or chill out. I'm not allowed to be in any situation where there is even a remote possibillity of drugs or alcohol being there. I've been told it's inappropriate for teens my age to go on one-on-one dates. I'm not allowed to stay out past sunset, unless I can get a ride home, and my parents are willing to do it. I'm not allowed to drive until I'm 18 (Although I'm very distractable so that might be realistic).

Is this normal for the parents of a 16-year-old? Or do my parents need to loosen up? If so, how can I get them to do that?

OK WTF??? My username is a line from an Ani DiFranco song...

Answer 1

Your parents are not the norm today, and that's too bad, because that's why so many kids these days get into trouble. Parents are just to busy to be bothered with being good parents!! Even a good teen can go bad if they end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. One bad decision can change your whole life--ruin it-- in a heartbeat, and then there is no going back. Please, please, be thankful that your parents care so much. At 16 I know you feel stifled, but later on in your life you will look back and be SOOOOO glad that they were strict--that they wanted you to grow up to be the best person you can be. Just remember, any parent that let's their kids go anywhere they want and do anything they want is a parent that just doesn't care.
Good luck!!

Answer 2

From this little bit, ur mom doesnt sound overly strict in any respect. 2 months isn't a lengthy time period to be courting. If it is ur first time, or perhaps if its no longer, you should attend it out longer than that. believe me, a am 22 so i replaced into there no longer some time previous, and that i understand at that age what might want to experience like a reliable secure courting probable isn't. The tablet by utilizing the way isn't the be all of contraception. for most it drasticly decreases the sex rigidity, plus its no longer healthful! this is been suitable to wellbeing complications which incorporates maximum cancers.

Answer 3

This is only normal for parents that truly love their 16 year old son or daughter. It might be out of the norm for parents that want their children to like then or be friends with them.
Your parents have been 16 and 18 and 24. You have not.

Consider who is the most important thing in their life. Now consider if you think they should risk your future on your wants?

You will be an adult soon and you can move out, rent your own apartment pay your own medical, insurance, utilities, food and all that goes with it.

The cost of making adult decisions is high.

Answer 4

It's that your parents love you. Not that they are being strict it's b-cause they 2 were once a 16 year old. And I was too ,my mother was the same way until I was a senior in High School and when she did let me hang out with the"BIG Dawgs" I ended up getting pregnant I'M 24 now and son is 6, but as you get older you get wiser and you look back on the things your parents wouldn't let you do. Cause believe it or not I wish I could go back to to when I was 16. But it's only cause they are trying to protect you and don't won't you to hang with the wrong "BIG DAWGS" but for now enjoy being a 16 year old cause ur not really missin much out there :-)

Answer 5

Ummm... I'm 14 and my parents do most of those things too. Except, they don't mind if I chill with someone who's parents are out. Then again, I'm Asian and most of my friends' parents are family friends. For the one-on-one dating thing, maybe you could talk to your parents and tell them that you know they're trying to protect you but by not allowing you to develop healthy relationships, you won't be able to gain some important social skills you'll need later on in life. Works on my parents--they used to say no dating until I'm in college but now they say no dating until I'm 16. But they say they're counting the days till I can drive myself around and they don't have to lol

Answer 6

my parents were like that too until i was 15 and started dating an older guy with a car behind their backs. after a few times of them not knowing where i was they backed off a little. i guess they figured it was better to know where i was than to be so controlling. i still wasn't allowed out on weeknights and weekends i had a 10:30 curfew. idk. at least i got to see him but I totally understand where you are coming from. i was a straight A student in the top 10 (top 1%) of my class and I was in so many extracurricular activities. I was a really good kid and I felt like my parents were too strict with me. I now am in college at an Ivy league school so I guess it all paid off. You could try talking to them about it and see if they can let you have a few more priviledges. being able to drive would be great for you (i wasnt allowed to get my lisence til i was 18 too and it totally sucked).

Answer 7

I can tell you that they are doing their best to keep you out of a 'dangerous' situation---the only way you'll have a chance of getting them to relax and feel at ease with you making the right decisions in those kinds of situations is to show them that you have knowledge of what to do when your back is up against the wall and you're offered to choose the right way, or the wrong way. Communication is the biggest thing that will help you!!!

Answer 8

What you are talking about is what the 1950's generation had to be when they were teens. I would imagine that you have much older parents.
Put up with it. There are more forces against you than you know. They are not just making up these rules to "protect you" from real threats, but from perceived threats that are so easy to be accused of today--such as "touching younger siblings of your friends" for which there is NO innocence--or 'not guilty'-- in this day and age.
All it takes is a vindictive younger sibling to ruin your chances for a sensitive job in the future such as astronaut, CIA spy, or even intelligence gathering work.
So, put up with it for a little while longer. I promise, it IS best even though it IS strict parenting.

Also, it sounds like one or both of your parents were victims of assault.

Answer 9

They just love you and want to protect you. It's very scary having kids today, and the world isn't always such a nice place. It sounds like your parents are willing to go out of their way to help you have a social life because they are willing to pick you up when you don't have a ride. I think your parents are just taking their job seriously, something more parents should do.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, it is not normal. But your parents do not need to loosen up. Yours are exceptional parents, and you need to go home and hug them both and say thank you. If your parents involvement and interest in your life and well being were normal, there would be fewer unwed mothers, unwanted pregnancies, young people on drugs, and dead teenagers. Tip of the hat to your parents, you lucky little girl.