When I was a teenager, I prided myself on being a good kid. I did well in school, had great friends, and genuinely enjoyed spending time with my parents—even during those awkward teenage years. Now, as an adult, I think I’ve turned out alright. I’m a contributing member of society, a dedicated spouse, a loving parent, and a person who generally tries to do the right thing.
But here’s the kicker: I did some really dumb things as a teen. As my kids inch closer to their teenage years, I find myself hoping they steer clear of the same reckless choices I made. Luckily, I somehow managed to dodge the consequences of my antics—mostly because I grew up in the pre-smartphone era when embarrassing moments weren’t perpetually documented. For today’s kids, the stakes are much higher. Here are a few examples of my youthful misadventures that I hope my kids will never replicate:
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Joyriding Without a License
In my early teens, my friends and I thought it’d be a blast to take a spin in a car—despite not having our licenses or any idea how to drive. One Saturday night, while our parents were out, we took my neighbor’s dad’s gigantic Oldsmobile for a joyride around the block. Some tire tracks on the lawn and a couple of close calls later, we miraculously returned it without a scratch. What if we’d crashed? We could have seriously hurt ourselves or others. Looking back, that was a reckless move. -
Sipping Cooking Wine in the Basement
My first real taste of alcohol (besides a sip of my dad’s beer) happened at a friend’s basement party. With nothing else to do, we found a bottle of cooking wine and thought it’d be fun to drink it. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. We ended up sick and regretting our choice, but what if we’d overindulged? It could have turned into a night of real trouble. -
Breaking Major School Rules
My high school had strict rules, especially because many students boarded there. As a day student, I had more freedom, which I exploited to take some boarding friends into town for a quick meal—totally against school policy. We never got caught, but we were living on borrowed time. If we had been caught? Expulsion could have derailed our futures. -
Going on a Shady Spring Break Trip
Remember those all-inclusive spring break trips that sounded too good to be true? Well, I fell for one. A group of friends and I booked a trip to the Bahamas, and while we made it back safe, we later found out the airline went under due to safety issues. I shudder to think what could have happened. Sometimes I think I’ve blocked out the more questionable decisions we made while we were there!
Looking back, I can hardly fathom the poor judgment I displayed during those years. Kids, even the good ones, often don’t consider the potential consequences of their actions. As a parent, I’m constantly thinking about these “what ifs” and how to guide my children away from making similar mistakes. While I know I can’t shield them from every bad choice, I truly hope they approach their teenage years with a little more wisdom.
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Summary
Reflecting on my teenage years, I realize that I engaged in some foolish behavior that I hope my children will avoid. From joyriding without a license to sneaking alcohol and breaking school rules, I navigated a maze of poor decisions. As a parent, I aim to guide my kids toward better choices, knowing that while I can’t prevent every misstep, I can offer advice based on my own experiences.