SINGAPORE EXPATS FORUM
Singapore Expat Forum and Message Board for Expats in Singapore & Expatriates Relocating to Singapore
An Open Letter to your Kids
- sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
- Posts: 39763
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
An Open Letter to your Kids
I thought just maybe someone here on the board can use it. If you have been here that long you may remember it.
I wrote this for my daughter & son some 8 years ago when my daughter was 13. It was also published in the local paper "The New Paper" (full page) on 2 May 1998.
[quote]How to survive the teenage years
Well, it’s finally happened. We have a teenager in the house.
It’s not like we didn’t expect it or anything. I mean, we’ve known for 13 years that it was coming, and we’ve tried to prepare ourselves. But it wasn’t until I saw Lisa talking to that 15-year-old boy at church the other day that I began to fully appreciate what was happening in our lives......And frankly, I’m a little scared.
Don’t get me wrong – Lisa is a terrific girl with a strong sense of values. But she’s also imperfect, which means she’s going to make mistakes from time to time. And today more than ever before, a simple mistake or error in judgment can be devastating to young people – emotionally, physically and spiritually.
And so I’ve been thinking. At age 13, Lisa hasn’t quite arrived at the point where she totally tunes Mom and Dad out the minute they start to talk. Maybe now – just as she’s beginning her teenage journey – is the time to debunk some of those myths that plagued us all, through adolescence, to one degree or another. If I could imprint anything on Lisa’s mind to help see her through the next seven or eight years, it would be that she remember these ten simple truths:
1. Everybody isn’t doing it. Whatever “it”
I wrote this for my daughter & son some 8 years ago when my daughter was 13. It was also published in the local paper "The New Paper" (full page) on 2 May 1998.
[quote]How to survive the teenage years
Well, it’s finally happened. We have a teenager in the house.
It’s not like we didn’t expect it or anything. I mean, we’ve known for 13 years that it was coming, and we’ve tried to prepare ourselves. But it wasn’t until I saw Lisa talking to that 15-year-old boy at church the other day that I began to fully appreciate what was happening in our lives......And frankly, I’m a little scared.
Don’t get me wrong – Lisa is a terrific girl with a strong sense of values. But she’s also imperfect, which means she’s going to make mistakes from time to time. And today more than ever before, a simple mistake or error in judgment can be devastating to young people – emotionally, physically and spiritually.
And so I’ve been thinking. At age 13, Lisa hasn’t quite arrived at the point where she totally tunes Mom and Dad out the minute they start to talk. Maybe now – just as she’s beginning her teenage journey – is the time to debunk some of those myths that plagued us all, through adolescence, to one degree or another. If I could imprint anything on Lisa’s mind to help see her through the next seven or eight years, it would be that she remember these ten simple truths:
1. Everybody isn’t doing it. Whatever “it”
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
- sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
- Posts: 39763
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
Thanks seraphim.
I'm only doing what I can and it seemed to work for my kids. I am a survivor of the US 60's flower power generation. I think we tried it all.
If I can help anybody from losing just one friend or loved one as I did many times over due to mistakes and our experimenting, etc., it will be all worth it. Unlike 'guest's thoughts, abstinence is the only surefire solution.
sms
I'm only doing what I can and it seemed to work for my kids. I am a survivor of the US 60's flower power generation. I think we tried it all.
If I can help anybody from losing just one friend or loved one as I did many times over due to mistakes and our experimenting, etc., it will be all worth it. Unlike 'guest's thoughts, abstinence is the only surefire solution.
sms
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
- Wind In My Hair
- Manager
- Posts: 2242
- Joined: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 12:47 pm
- sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
- Posts: 39763
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
WIMH, that's been resurrected from April (check the date). I was cleaning out a hard disk back then when I found the original that I had submitted to "The New Paper" back in '98 and though it might be useful here. Someone must have remembered it.
Please feel free to use it. It's not copyrighted.
sms
Please feel free to use it. It's not copyrighted.
sms
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
- Wind In My Hair
- Manager
- Posts: 2242
- Joined: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 12:47 pm
i joined this board in july, so i must have seen it 8 years ago in the paper. gosh i feel the wrinkles forming right now....sundaymorningstaple wrote:WIMH, that's been resurrected from April (check the date). I was cleaning out a hard disk back then when I found the original that I had submitted to "The New Paper" back in '98 and though it might be useful here. Someone must have remembered it.
Please feel free to use it. It's not copyrighted.
sms
Re: An Open Letter to your Kids
[quote="sundaymorningstaple"]I thought just maybe someone here on the board can use it. If you have been here that long you may remember it.
I wrote this for my daughter & son some 8 years ago when my daughter was 13. It was also published in the local paper "The New Paper" (full page) on 2 May 1998.
[quote]How to survive the teenage years
Well, it’s finally happened. We have a teenager in the house.
It’s not like we didn’t expect it or anything. I mean, we’ve known for 13 years that it was coming, and we’ve tried to prepare ourselves. But it wasn’t until I saw Lisa talking to that 15-year-old boy at church the other day that I began to fully appreciate what was happening in our lives......And frankly, I’m a little scared.
Don’t get me wrong – Lisa is a terrific girl with a strong sense of values. But she’s also imperfect, which means she’s going to make mistakes from time to time. And today more than ever before, a simple mistake or error in judgment can be devastating to young people – emotionally, physically and spiritually.
And so I’ve been thinking. At age 13, Lisa hasn’t quite arrived at the point where she totally tunes Mom and Dad out the minute they start to talk. Maybe now – just as she’s beginning her teenage journey – is the time to debunk some of those myths that plagued us all, through adolescence, to one degree or another. If I could imprint anything on Lisa’s mind to help see her through the next seven or eight years, it would be that she remember these ten simple truths:
1. Everybody isn’t doing it. Whatever “it”
I wrote this for my daughter & son some 8 years ago when my daughter was 13. It was also published in the local paper "The New Paper" (full page) on 2 May 1998.
[quote]How to survive the teenage years
Well, it’s finally happened. We have a teenager in the house.
It’s not like we didn’t expect it or anything. I mean, we’ve known for 13 years that it was coming, and we’ve tried to prepare ourselves. But it wasn’t until I saw Lisa talking to that 15-year-old boy at church the other day that I began to fully appreciate what was happening in our lives......And frankly, I’m a little scared.
Don’t get me wrong – Lisa is a terrific girl with a strong sense of values. But she’s also imperfect, which means she’s going to make mistakes from time to time. And today more than ever before, a simple mistake or error in judgment can be devastating to young people – emotionally, physically and spiritually.
And so I’ve been thinking. At age 13, Lisa hasn’t quite arrived at the point where she totally tunes Mom and Dad out the minute they start to talk. Maybe now – just as she’s beginning her teenage journey – is the time to debunk some of those myths that plagued us all, through adolescence, to one degree or another. If I could imprint anything on Lisa’s mind to help see her through the next seven or eight years, it would be that she remember these ten simple truths:
1. Everybody isn’t doing it. Whatever “it”
- beenhere10years
- Chatter
- Posts: 379
- Joined: Mon, 23 May 2005 6:51 am
- Location: Up here surrounded by big, green trees
Thanks SMS,
As the mother of 3 teens I can appreciate the wisdom here. Well done.
Post-Clinton era you may need to add an addendum:
If you're embarrassed to do it in front of your parents then it is considered sex.
As the mother of 3 teens I can appreciate the wisdom here. Well done.
Post-Clinton era you may need to add an addendum:
If you're embarrassed to do it in front of your parents then it is considered sex.

When you go in for a job interview, I think a good thing to ask is if they ever press charges.
-- jack handy
-- jack handy
- Wind In My Hair
- Manager
- Posts: 2242
- Joined: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 12:47 pm
- beenhere10years
- Chatter
- Posts: 379
- Joined: Mon, 23 May 2005 6:51 am
- Location: Up here surrounded by big, green trees
- Wind In My Hair
- Manager
- Posts: 2242
- Joined: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 12:47 pm
- sundaymorningstaple
- Moderator
- Posts: 39763
- Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
- Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot
That might work over here but I'm not so sure in the US of A anymore? I know my son is more open than I ever was at the same age! (won't say he does anything more - probably a lot less due to lack of opportunity) but a lot more open with what he does do.beenhere10years wrote:Post-Clinton era you may need to add an addendum:
If you're embarrassed to do it in front of your parents then it is considered sex.
For 'ThankU SMS' and any other readers.....please feel free to show this to your kids or even other parents or anybody else for that matter. As I said when this was posted here originally in April, I actually had it published in "The New Paper" for all and sundry to use as they see fit.
sms
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
SAT Test Preparation for your kids
by Seannnnn » Tue, 27 Feb 2018 4:47 pm » in Parenting, Family & Schools - 0 Replies
- 1918 Views
-
Last post by Seannnnn
Tue, 27 Feb 2018 4:47 pm
-
-
- 0 Replies
- 2810 Views
-
Last post by Pal
Fri, 09 Nov 2018 10:22 pm
-
-
Open a bank account for 18yo on a DP
by The Ref » Fri, 28 Dec 2018 2:43 pm » in Credit Card & Banking in Singapore - 0 Replies
- 2231 Views
-
Last post by The Ref
Fri, 28 Dec 2018 2:43 pm
-
-
-
Open water swimming buddies
by tspear » Tue, 22 Jan 2019 9:58 pm » in Entertainment, Leisure & Sports - 3 Replies
- 4369 Views
-
Last post by RadekCoufal
Sun, 09 May 2021 2:53 pm
-
-
-
Open water swimming buddies
by tspear » Tue, 22 Jan 2019 10:02 pm » in Events, Gatherings, Making Friends - 0 Replies
- 2583 Views
-
Last post by tspear
Tue, 22 Jan 2019 10:02 pm
-
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 29 guests