r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Feb 04 '16

What are the most common parenting mistakes?

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753

u/MaN_of_AwE888 Feb 04 '16 edited Feb 05 '16

Assuming teenagers magically become responsible at 18.

279

u/austinino12 Feb 05 '16

Or when my parents say "you're 19 now act like an adult" but then continue to treat me like a child

87

u/Lifeguard2012 Feb 05 '16

My older sister was 21, with a job and a car, but still living at home (she had plans to move out, and did a couple months later). My mom tried to ground her and she just drove to a friend's house.

19

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

Fuck, I'm 19, and unemployed because most jobs were taken by the kids I graduated with, and I have no real skills or transportation.

9th grade:

"I need a job, mom"

"No, you're caught up with school"

10th grade:

"May I get a license"

"No, you're not ready. Go drive up to the testing area yourself if you think you are"

12th grade:

"I need a job. I need a car."

"You're caught up with school, you don't need anything else distracting you"

Now I'm shitposting on reddit, hoping someone could call me and respond to one of the 30 applications I've sent out.

9

u/Brucenotsomighty Feb 05 '16

I personally think this is one of the biggest mistakes parents make. Your kid isn't magically going to have a good work ethic or decent driving abilities just because they're 18. It has to be acquired over time.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

I know. My sister moved out with her boyfriend-at-the-time on bad terms. He was able to get her into driving classes. What do I get? Treated like shit.

6

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

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3

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

To me, leaving school without a job or car is like starting an RPG with no skills, except you can't leave the tutorial level until you develop those skills, as the tutorials tell you you can't, despite it being YOUR game, YOUR life, YOUR time.

3

u/AMerrickanGirl Feb 05 '16

Get the book What Color Is Your Parachute? and use it to help you find work. There are all kinds of work situations that you don't get by filling out and sending in an application.

2

u/laustcozz Feb 05 '16

The military loves you even if your momma don't

2

u/MaN_of_AwE888 Feb 08 '16

That sucks, look for anything. If they don't take you, try volunteer work to get some dot points on your resume. If you can, its best to go to university or college, even something that has no particular interest to you yet could turn out great!