Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Teens need "A room of their own"

[Sharon Villines (sharonvillines]

> Secondly, most communities have a children room - because
> it's perceived as beneficial for children (and adults!) for the former
> to have such a place.  They are not required to "pay their dues" before
> they get to have a room, or play on the outdoor equipment, etc.
> So, why are people going after the teens?

No one is going after anyone. The reality is that teens are a part of
society and have to learn how to be free still be a part of it.

Are adults only "paying their dues" when they participate in the community?

There are many ways to practice independence. Demanding a room that is
exclusive when no one else has that right, is not one of them.

When my son was this age I purposely set up a battle over coffee. While I
preferred he not drink it, it wasn't going to kill him or "lead to"
anything. Whenever he was feeling oppressed he made a point of letting me
know that he had had coffee at MacDonalds or where ever. We had a lot of fun
with it and I felt it worked to give him something to battle over so he
didn't have to find anything really problematic.


Sharon
----
Sharon Villines
The MacGuffin Guide to Detective Fiction
http://www.macguffin.net



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