Vanessa Van Petten wrote her first parenting book in her late teens and has a great parenting website, www.radicalparenting.com She sent this a few weeks ago and I think it bears repeating!
Myth: Kids want to be your friend.
Reality: Kids want parents, not peers. Kids want a strong line between the parent role and the friend role.
Myth: Kids are embarrassed by you.
Reality: Not true! It’s far more embarrassing to have parents that do not care and are not there.
Myth: When kids act like they are not listening, they aren’t.
Reality: They can hear you and are usually listening, they just might not respond.