[thermodynthrway]

It would have rediculous for my parents to suggest it. They trusted me to drive around pretty much anywhere and hold a job without getting in much trouble. How much more dangerous could the internet be than driving through a sketchy area.

Their trust made me far more responsible than I would have been if they tried to treat me like a child when I was in my mid-late teens. I knew if I screwed up it was on me and would've felt bad that they misplaced their trust. Kids loooovvveee being treated like adults, I wish more people would use that as leverage.

I think many parents these days make the transition from guardian to mentor years too late

[ddingus]

Indeed.

Secondly, lowest common denominator often creates difficult scenarios.

What I was capable of, at say age 14, was not the norm.

Fortunately, I lived in a time and place where that was accepted and there were few issues.

I once spent a few months writing assembly language. I heard get outside a few times, but that was it.

Later, spent another one fixing an old car, to be my first.

Then, out alone in the deep woods with a friend for a few days.

It was like that growing up. A wide range of experiences. Some easy, others not so easy. Danger was present. One paid attention, or faced it.

So pay attention. Rough, but valuable.

When I parented, I faced similar. Ran it about the same way. Some of my kids could handle it. Others could not, or did later.

The one who really could, a lor like me in that, currently travels the world.

Good.

[rich_ard]

While I can't speak to 'all parents', I can say that as a parent of five, kids develop significantly differently. We've been treating our oldest daughter as basically an adult since she was 13 or 14; the next-oldest is getting there, at 15. Next couple down the line we have to monitor more closely.

[schrodinger]

I think you raise a good point that children grow into the responsibility they’re given.