Rhonda,

I'm not a parent, but can pray for you nevertheless.

I am praying----- Original Message -----  because, though it may be
perfectly all right (because you all know I do it <SMILE>) I know Christa's
not mature enough to make that kind of decision and, anyway, there are not
enough safety nets in place.

I pray you resolve your differences quickly.  Keep us posted.


--
Carol

From: "Rhonda" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2003 8:10 AM
Subject: parent question


> I have a question, or rather a situation I would like advice about.
> As y'all know Christa has been driving me to the hospital, to the
> grocery store, bank and to pay bills and run errands since her dad has
> been in the hospital.
> She  chats on the computer with friends, and has met some new ones.  One
> lives not far from here.  He, yes I said He wants to meet Christa, he is
> 17 and she is 15.  He is about ten miles from here, about the same
> distance as the hospital. So, Christa wanted todrive to his house and
> meet him.  His parents are home she says and his brothers.  I said No,
> no way could she go and meet some strange boy as far as I knew.  That if
> she were ever to meet him, he would have to come here, or we would have
> to go with her to a mall or public place.
> She was angry with me, and said I only let her drive if it was something
> I wanted to do.
> Today she didn't want to stay at the hospital so she left me there and
> came back a couple of hours later.  We are abouteight miles from the
> hospital.  So I said that she and I would just stay together, and she
> wouldn't have to drive by herself anymore.
>
> I realize that being a parent isn't always popular, and so since I was
> not letting her do as she pleased, she was angry.  I guess I just resent
> her implication of "since I have been doing this for you, you
> should....."
> Not actually spoken, but the feeling was there.
> I called Ben and he told her the same thing.
> So, she hasn't spoken to me all night, well, this too shall pass,
> but my question is how do you guys handle having a teen driver take you
> places?  Do you pay them as though it were a job, or is it just
> something they do occasionally.
> Just curious as to what y'all think of this.
>
> Christa is usually pretty agreeable, but sometimes she can be down right
> difficult, but that comes I think with being a teenager.
>
> Thanks for your ideas!
>
> Rhonda
>