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By the age of 15, most kids seem to believe the lie that they are no longer in need of their parents. I’m not sure what it is about high school, but kids all seem to get this false sense of maturity and independence, meanwhile their parents are still driving them around and paying for their living expenses. As for me, I had myself fooled thinking that my way was the best option rather than listening to my parents advice. There are so many new and intriguing opportunities in high school that I had never seen before and was genuinely curious about. However, the majority of them my parents frequently warned me about and wouldn’t allow me to take part. As a teenager who only wanted freedom to make her own choices, this can be fairly frustrating. I began frequently hearing the word “no” to many situations and didn’t understand why. I viewed my parents differently, upset that other kids' parents allowed them to do certain things that mine wouldn't allow. I thought my parents were overprotective and weren’t able to see how “mature” I was. This mindset lasted all the way until my senior year. But how did I eventually get out of this mindset? This was sadly from a long list of mistakes followed by even more regret and reflection. Spending half the year in lockdown really causes a person to do a lot of thinking. Now, I could take the long route and in detail explain my thought processes and exactly where I made mistakes, however the shorter version to sum up my long time of reflection is by saying that my parents were right. Some things seem so intriguing in high school, however their consequences don’t actually set in until later. People often make choices and don’t wake up regretting them the next day, it often takes time, thought, and true maturing before people are able to understand why some decisions weren’t the best. Not only does it take people time to understand why choices are bad, it takes genuine character development before actually understanding why “no” was the correct answer. Parents aren’t trying to be lame, they just want to prevent the regret and reflection process that will eventually happen for everyone. Proverbs 1:8-10 says, “Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent." This may just be one of the hardest ideas to grasp as a teenager, however we must do our best to truly understand and live by this verse. Our parents' teachings are only for protection and to better our lives as a whole. They are essentially saving us from worlds of hurt and regret that come with making poor decisions. As teenagers we are offered great, not to mention, free advice from our parents, we are nothing but fools if we decide to blow them off and not take it. Next time your parent gives advice, try understanding it and how it could positively impact your future self, rather than only focussing on the current situation. This could honestly save yourself from future reflection, hurt, and regret. 

Jessica's Thoughts On: Listening to Your Parents

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