04/21 Kids Ask Dr. Phil

Tyrrea......
Posted by: queentween
Posted on: 2005-04-20 20:27:59

To the kid who has been keeping the family together for years- I hope Dr Phil gives you a house, a new car, a college scholarship and a guarantee of a good job after that education- you have done more than most adults could in such a situation-you deserve some fun, kiddo- you've earned it!!!!!

Posted by: judiron
Posted on: 2005-04-21 11:05:09

Tyrrea, Your a inspiration to all young people. Best wishes and success to you!
What a beautiful & inspirational story
Posted by: cinemaven
Posted on: 2005-04-21 14:59:28

I was still shaking my head over the parents who let their daughter go clubbing until 1 a.m. when my 18 yr. old son has a midnight curfew when Tyerra's story came on.

What an amazing contrast. A teen who took on such tremendous responsibility with no thoughts for herself. I'm still weepy after seeing her joy at getting the scholarship.

I wonder if all the Dr. Phil viewers could get together to write Amazing home makeover (or is Jay's show still going?) to improve her situation even more. I would just love to see an update of that family that shows her brothers and sisters also in college and Tyerra with a wonderful job. That much joy in the worst situations really inspires.

Thank you Tyerra and Dr. Phil for showing a young woman who has her priorities in order. I know so many amazing teens and it tires me to only see the whining ones who want a later curfew.
Amazing woman
Posted by: momof2er
Posted on: 2005-04-21 15:18:38

Tyerra, I admire you and all that you do. You are an inspiration to us all. Dr. Phil is amazing and I'm so happy for you that you are going to school and are on your way to a good life. Good luck!!
Tyrrea you are amazing....
Posted by: harliechix
Posted on: 2005-04-21 15:18:38

Tyrrea, I commend you on keeping your family togather.It is tough enough to take care of yourself but to work as hard as you have, you deserve everthing you were given today. You really touched me being so excited that you could go to school. I have just applied for grants to allow me to go back at 36 years old after being married for over 15 years.(divorced now) So my prayers go with you as you make this journey, and god bless you and your family. DR PHIL...... You are a wonderful man. I have watched you since you were first on the Oprah Show. You have helped me with your insight to alot of issues i have been dealing with as an abused wife. I thank you and god bless you and your family for the wonderful work you do.
Tyrrea....Best of luck to you!
Posted by: jnjzmom
Posted on: 2005-04-22 10:46:37

Tyrrea...GOD BLESS YOU. you have taken on a HUGE responsibility taking care of your siblings and your mom. so now i say...it's YOUR turn!!! good luck in college and may all your dreams come true.:)
TYERRA, YOU GO GIRL!
Posted by: vanka_dee
Posted on: 2005-04-22 13:04:56

WOW! You are such an inspiration! I don't think a lot of people could do what you've done ...I know I couldn't do it.

I hope some of the older people in your house get off their butts and get jobs already. Congrats on going to school -whatever you decide to persue, I'm sure you'll be great at it. I think you've already shown the world that you can do anything!

~*Kristin AKA Zivanka
Unfair Curfew?
Posted by: dpmustang
Posted on: 2005-04-21 09:06:46

To 16 year old Rachel. I don't think that your parents are concerned about the clubbing so much as they are worried about you being kidnapped, raped and/or murdered. There are evil people in the world who prey on young girls, think I'm wrong? Pick up a news paper!

I think your parents are wrong, wrong about the curfew time! If you were my child believe me you'd be home by 11:00 pm not 1:00 am. And if you broke curfew? Well lets just say I would not be above tracking you down!

For Rachels parents. Step up and get control of your child before you're called for identification at the local morgue. If you let her continue to roam the streets at 1:00 am something bad will happen, drunk driver, kidnapper, murderer, rapist. These people are roaming and hunting the same time Rachel is heading home.
"not be above tracking you down" *lol*
Posted by: cinemaven
Posted on: 2005-04-21 15:18:38

I was thinking the exact same thing.

When my son was 16, he wanted to go to teen night at a club. I said he could if it passed the test and he rolled his eyes and said "nevermind mom".

That week, I walked in on teen night and found out the club did nothing more than place an X on the hand of minors but there was still alcohol served to everyone over 19. Of course it didn't pass the test and he didn't ask to go there again.

As an 18 year old, he's so responsible that he comes home from parties where people are drunk. He thanks us for having kept him out of trouble when he was too young to know better and he is a wonderful example for his little brother. I went through a LOT of "but mom" and eye rolls when he was 14 - 17 but now I'm glad we kept up our beliefs :)
Love It
Posted by: sudser
Posted on: 2005-04-22 08:38:25

Cinemaven, I love your "passing the test" deal. You sound like a great parent.
Oh Please...
Posted by: harliechix
Posted on: 2005-04-21 15:20:10

I can't believe that the parents even allowed her to go to clubs let alone stay out until 1am!!!!! I am now 36 but my curfew at 18(!!!!) was 10:30 pm. So keep on whining about 1 am (at 16 years old no less!!) and see if it gets ya any later. After todays show....doubt it. Are her parents not concerned with the all the horrible things going on in this messed up world today....They need to get a clue!!!!!

Posted by: pheadra2
Posted on: 2005-04-21 15:41:04

I couldn't agree more! My curfew when I was 18 was 11:30!!!!! When I was 16 my curfew was literally 10:30, 11, on a good night. Only now that Im enrolled in college I can pretty much come home whenever, but I still get yelled at when I don't let my parents know what Im doing.

I cant imagine being out at 1 when I was 16. Half of my friends had a curfew at 1 and got into A LOT of trouble. Two got pregnant, and other arrested for illegal consumption of alcohol.

I say stop worrying about how 'uncool' you are that you have to be home early and start thinking about how safe you are. Sounds corny, but I lived, and am doing alright for myself.
High five to all of you!
Posted by: lf211002
Posted on: 2005-04-21 17:29:36

You all said exactly what this 20 year old was thinking! 1!!!! No Way. The only time I was ever out until 1 in the morning was when I was 19, or when we had late night drama dress rehearsals at the school. Even then I had to call my mom and tell her where I was. Heck, I am graduating from college this quarter and I still let my mom know where I am and what I am doing. It is a violent and scarey world.
Lisa
Unfair Curfew
Posted by: anitalabel
Posted on: 2005-04-22 00:44:08

To the 16 year old I would just like to say
that 1 A.M. is to Late to stay out at night.Just
Yesterday on April 20 a 16 year old girl was
kidnapped in Kentucky Tn . an Amber Alert
went out for her as i know of she has not found a florida girl 13 was found dead because she trusted someone please dont let this happen to you dont stay out hours of the night.go home be home at 10 pm be there for your mom and dad they love you. i still have my mom but i dont my dad he died on today april 21 2003 he has been gone 2 years please love your parents and respect them. you dont know how much you miss then til God takes one of them away.
your friend anita
unfair curfew?
Posted by: lexismom21
Posted on: 2005-04-23 19:12:04

I agree with you dpmustang. My kids would be so embarrassed by the time I hunted them down they would never want to leave the house again. I'm not above anything to keep my babies safe and alive. I think these parents who let their kids run wild and rule the roost are in need of a serious reality check. The last I heard, "I'M the parent, you are the child, you do as I SAY not as you wish and I sure as hell don't take orders from any kid!!!!" (Qouting my mother of course...lol)
What! Clubbing?
Posted by: flthomcat
Posted on: 2005-04-21 09:06:46

I can't believe I am going to miss this show today due to a play date at the park with a white-haired 4-yr-old! But this former high school teacher's head is still spinning with the thought that ANY parent would allow a teen to go "clubbing"! Where have all the mature, responsible and caring parents gone? How about a 9 p.m. bedtime on school nights and a 10:00 p.m. bedtime on weekends...at 16, Rachel is probably a sophomore in high school and too immature to be given enough rope to hang herself. SHAME on wimpy parents; they should be charged with child neglect or child abuse! When will they begin to do what's BEST for their children, not what's easiest???
Whew!!!!
Posted by: queentween
Posted on: 2005-04-21 10:16:38

Whew! I thought I was going to be the only one having a heart attack over a 1 am curfew!!! No Way! At 16, this girl should be in school, doing related activities, have a part-time job and looking at colleges, not staying out all night. Mom and Dad, step up to the plate and say "No", or you are going to find yourself taking care of a new baby by your 16 year old baby(I'm not so old that I don't remember what happens after midnight......)
16 year old clubbing???
Posted by: kjhebron
Posted on: 2005-04-21 09:06:46

That 16 year old should count her lucky stars she is not my daughter because she would not even be allowed to "club". I used to "club" in my early 20's and got into some situations that were to say the least, dangerous. I am not sure exactly what clubbing is to a 16 year old but to me it would present some situations that a 16 year old may not be mature enough to handle. In this day and age it is way too dangerous to let a 16 year stay out until even 11:00 pm, much less 1:00 am. I think her parents aren't strict enough. My 16 year old daughter has a midnight curfew, a Nextel that I constantly contact her on and absolutely no clubbing.
Have her parents done their homework?
Posted by: coopjake
Posted on: 2005-04-21 09:43:33

My question to these parents is..."Have you visited the club unannounced at least once to see what's happening around 1am?"

Although I doubt this 16 year-old has any bad intentions, I don't think she is mature enough to be out in a club setting until the wee hours of the morning. When unsupervised teens mix with drugs and alcohol intent is thrown out the window. Judgement is skewed by peer presure and mob mentality. Even good kids can make one poor decision that can literally take away their life. Binge drinking has and does result in death. Taking a ride home at one in the morning from a semi-impared friend can cost her her life.

Although she says "most of the clubs don't even have it" (alcohol), the alcohol-free teen clubs in our medium-sized midwestern town always seem to attract the least supervised teens and the police are there most nights. This is not the environment I want my daughter hanging in until 1AM.

Again I say if you want to ensure your child's safety you must do your homework and set reasonable boundries. No 16 year-old needs to be out past 11 on school nights or midnight on weekends. A reasonable curfew can be negotiated between the parents and child but the ultimate decision must reside with the parents.

You can bet if my children weren't home by curfew they knew it was me on their cell phone demanding an ETA.
They also knew if they were 30 minutes late one night the curfew was moved up an equal amount the next night. Kids need boundries and learn to respect them with maturity.
we have police inforced curfews
Posted by: momisme2
Posted on: 2005-04-21 10:24:13

Out here the kids arent allowed out past 10pm on weekdays and 11pm on weekends. So the question of curfews doesent even come up. If they are caught out later then curfew the cops can pick them up. Good system I think!

However, if there wernt any police inforced curfews, I would never allow my 15 yo to stay out till 1am. With the exception of a special occasion, I wouldnt allow my 17 yo to stay out that late! They give me enough gray hair I dont need to add to that by worrying till 1am. LOL

If the kids dont like the rules tell them they can be rule free if they pay rent, utilities, food... Our son went through a short spell where he thought he was all big and bad and didnt have to follow the rules. We had enough of that and told him "Fine! You can rent your room from us and pay your share of everything and then come and go as you please. There are rental rules you will have to follow just like in every rental situation, but other then that you can be a free agent. Of course, that would mean you would have to get a second job and your plans of college will pretty much go out the window but heck! You wont have to follow our rules so you should be set." He didnt like that idea too very much. Matter of fact, he thought that was just about the worse idea there was. HAHA He decided he could follow the rules after all when given the choices. What a surprise! ;)

p.s. Coopjake, im the same way with curfews and my kids. Im incredibly strict about it. According to my husband, anyway. lol They each have a '5 minute late leeway' and if they walk in 6 minutes late they are all done. I refuse to sit around worrying over them because they cant make it in the house when they are supposed to.