Role Models (this is a rant indirectly written to certain people we know with my opinions & my opinions only)

Teenagers. I was there not very long ago. The only differences are that, now, I see certain behaviors in a different perspective as I did then, and that I have children who look up to certain teenagers and how they act, which directly effects what my kids will & will not see as acceptable behavior in the coming years.

When I look back at my teenage years, I can be proud of the fact that I never drank a drop of alcohol until I turned 21 (and even now, I don't want any). I never went to parties with alcohol & I've never touched a drug that wasn't prescribed by a doctor. But at 17, I was pregnant. I was having a baby & being forced to give up any teen years and rebellion left in me. I had engaged in something that I thought I was mature enough for and I quickly learned that I wasn't. I had never thought about it from the angle that I see it from now. I have nieces and nephews that may or may not have looked up to me & I was a pregnant high school student. Not the best role model.

Now, that's not what is bothering me so bad. I grew up and now hope to be a good role model for my kids. The thing that is bothering me is some of the teenagers that MY kids may be looking up to. I'm not going to post names or how we are associated with this people, but I am going to address some concerns in hopes that these people read this and understand where I'm coming from.

Clothes. Ladies, I understand that you are coming to the years where you want to be noticed by boys, and your body may be doing a good job of that. But is it necessary to wear shorts that barely cover your rear end? And is that shirt that cuts off just below your bra something you need to be wearing? Yes, it is going to get you attention, but is it really the right kind of attention? Maybe you are wanting the wrong kind of attention, but let me tell you this. I do not want my daughter growing up thinking that booty shorts and naked stomachs are attractive. I don't want her looking like that because it is NOT acceptable in mine or her father's eyes to wear something like that anywhere other than in a swimming pool. I want her to grow up knowing that she is attractive without those things. Now I'm not saying she will grow up wearing long baggy shirts & sweat pants. I'm saying that I would like for her to dress in clothes all the time that she could wear to church or to her grandparents house without thinking twice about it. Understand?

Underage Drinking. Do you understand that there is a legal drinking age? Do you know that it is in place for a reason? If you are in high school, you are extremely too young to be drinking. I know people my age that I deem to STILL be too immature to drink. You might think that it is cool to go out and party and get wasted and have 'fun' with your friends, but let me tell you this: I hope to God that there is not a day that my kids tell me "well it's ok because *so-in-so* did it." What are you going to do when you are at a party, things get a little out of hand, and YOU'RE the one pregnant at 17? Granted I tell Amberleigh the truth about me being too young, but it is not something I'm going to condone. It won't be one of those things where I say "Well, I can't get on to her because I did it." I know I was not the best role model.

Smoking. That is a nasty habit that causes all sorts of problems to your body. Take a nursing class or just an anatomy class & learn about that before you decide to pick one back up. But I'm not here to give a lesson. I'm here to say that I don't care for my kids to be around TEENAGERS who smell like cigarettes or are smoking in front of them. I have my mind set on this one and I hope to instill in my kids knowledge about cancer & lung disease & circulatory problems & everything that cigarettes cause. Please do not be the reason that my children pick up a nasty habit like that.

Drugs. I don't even care talking about this, but I'm sure you can guess my stance on this one too. It's illegal & that's all there is to it.


Kids (because that is what you are....kids), my children either do or will look up to you at some point, Amberleigh in particular. She is going to look at you ladies and say "I want to be just like her." Are you really someone that you want that innocent baby to look up to? I want nothing but the best for you and nothing but the best for my kids. You may put on a good front & only show your better, more mature & innocent side to my child. But what is going to happen the day that they see photos of you dressed in almost nothing with a beer in your hand? Is that really who you want to be? Is that what you want these kids to see?