A letter to my oldest child

To my dear child,

Now that you are a couple months from turning 20, I want you to know that I love you. I think that you still have so much growing up to do though. You need to learn that the amount of freedom you have isn't something that comes without strings. The more freedoms you have, the more responsibilities you have. They are not always equal to each other.

I know that you think that it's ok for you to go traipsing off to the Cayman's because your friend Ashley's parents purchased you a ticket. I know that you think that it is your decision. I just caution you about making these types of decisions. Your goals do not lend themselves well to messing up. You need to pay attention and focus hard.

I'm offended by your attitudes towards me and Dan. We love you, and we ask from you that you participate in the house. While you are living here we expect you to pay attention to your messes and to clean them up. You are old enough to take care of your own messes now. I don't think that leaving a sink full of water behind is is cleaning your bathroom. I don't think that a dirty bathroom floor is having cleaned your bathroom.

I should expect you to do what you say you are going to do around here. In reasonable time. I am not a freak where I expect you to have a pristine room and bathroom, I do expect for you to keep them tidy and to clean your bathroom every week.

I expect you to communicate with me, and in the future, when it comes to picking you up from work, if you don't reach me by 1opm I will not come pick you up. If we expect you home at a certain time, and you do not show up, we will lock the doors, and you better have a good reason why things didn't happen.

I will not be treated the way you treat me any longer. You will behave in a manner that is respectful towards this home and those who live here.

I love you, it's hard to grow up, believe me, I know this, but it's gotta happen. The world does NOT revolve around you and your charm. We see through it.