Rules of Life for Teenagers

Little did I know that this blog would focus on my youngest teenage son.  I might need to start another one.  What would I name it?  Momma Knows Naught.....hmmmm

We saw in the news a story of a really bad car accident that happened this morning.  The car was completely mangled.  My son got up to leave the room.  When I asked him where he was going, he said he didn't want to see anything on accidents.  I know that the media focuses on the bad in life and it wears on our kids, but this is one I really thought he should watch.  Trust me, I have been in the car with him when he drifts in the other lane or takes forever to come to a full stop.  

I keep forgetting that at age 45 I have no life experiences and don't understand what it is like to be a teenager.  At least that is what I have been told.
I happened to come across Rules of Life for Teenagers (there are actually 50 in the book): 
Rules of Life for Teenagers
Charles Sykes is the author of Dumbing Down Our Kids.He volunteered for high school and college graduates a list of things he did not learn in school.

Rule #1. Life is not fair Get used to it. The average teenager uses the phrase "it's not fair" 8.6 times a day. You got it from your parents. Who said it so often you decided they must be the most idealistic generation ever. When they started hearing it from their own kids, They realized Rule #1.

Rule #2. The real world won't care as much about your self-esteem as your-school does, it will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself. This may come as a shock. Usually, when inflated self-esteem meets reality, kids complain that it's not fair. (See Rule No. 1)

Rule #3. Sorry, you won't make $40,000 a year right out of high school. And you won't be a vice president or have a car phone either. You may even have to wear uniform that doesn't have a Gap label on it.

Rule #4. If you think your teacher is tough, wait 'till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure, so he tends to be a bit edgier. When you mess up, he is not going ask you how feel about it.

Rule #5. Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping, They called it opportunity. They weren't embarrassed making minimum wage either. They would have been embarrassed to sit around talking about Kurt Cobain all weekend.

Rule #6. It's not your parents fault. If you mess up, you are responsible. This is the flip side of "It's my life," and "You're not the boss of me," and other eloquent proclamations of your generation. When you turn 18, it's on your dime. Don't whine about it or you'll sound like a baby boomer.

Rule #7. Before you were born your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning up your room and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are. And by the way, before you save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents' generation try delousing the closet in your bedroom.

Rule #8. Life is not divided into semesters, and you don't get summers off. Nor even Easter break They expect you to show up every day. For eight hours. And you don't get a new life every 10 weeks. It just goes on and on.

Rule #9. Television is not real life. Your life is not a sitcom. Your problems will not all be solved in 30 minutes, minus time for commercials, In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop to go to jobs. Your friends will not be perky or as polite as Jennifer Aniston.

Rule #10. Be nice to nerds. You may end up working for them We all could.

Rule #11. Enjoy life while you can. Sure, parents are a pain, school's a bother, and life is depressing. But someday you'll realize how wonderful it was to be a kid. Maybe you should start now. You're welcome.

(http://www.bible.ca/f-teen-life-rules.htm)