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should prove to the parents that no, this kid is not ready to make his own decisions or to live with the consequences and - NOT ready for sex.

Unfortunately some parents give up. It's easy to become worn down, to constantly be badgered, to have to keep monitoring phones, Internet, social activities. Many parents, by the time their kids are teens, are just tired. They're ready to move on. This may have been a reason that teens used to get married at such young ages. This is not recommended now, because teens, while they appear to be mature, are not; they've had their parents doing and interfering for them for years. For many, it continues through college and beyond. Never has the phrase "appearances can be deceiving" held so true as in this day and age when parents attempt to do it all and be it all for their kids. And one must use the term "kids" very loosely - parental interference with college professors and work supervisors is hardly unheard of these days.

Belief that sex outside of marriage is wrong certainly plays a part in this. But morality is not relative, and the fact that so many teens are having sex is not justification for others to do so. However, even the "best" kids make mistakes which is, again, why parents cannot take to heart their own perceived failures and blame themselves when things go awry; teens are individuals, not extensions of the parents, and a wise parent will realize this sooner rather than later.

Teenagers will have sex. Try to ensure that it's later, although having grandchildren when you're young might keep you younger. On the other hand, it might show you how glaringly obvious it is that you can no longer keep up with the little rugrats.

Learn more about this author, Robin Tidwell.
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