Recently, after telling my son that staying up until midnight on a school night was not okay, he pointed to his Dad watching the news and reminded us that all men are created equal.

It’s no longer 1970. And truthfully, I’m not sure I’d want it to be. We’re a long way from “children should be seen but not heard”. While the conservatism of the 50’s feels outdated, I yearn for some semblance of balance. Mother isn’t always right. Father isn’t perfect. But our life experience and maturity have to account for something.

We DO know more than they do. And, we understand the consequences for improper behavior. We survived without immediate gratification and know that they can too. We were not entertained every afternoon and weekend and still managed to have fun. Extravagant summer vacations were for the more fortunate. We may have looked on with envy but never stared. Our futures were not plotted out for us and we all found our way.

  "...our kids need to accept that until

they are adults themselves,

Mom and Dad really do know best."

Our kids have more leeway and a sense of entitlement that we didn’t know existed. The current media portrays parents in a way that is demeaning to us. Kids model their TV heroes and sadly, those heroes do not respect their elders. Ultimately, the fault lies with us.

I’ve gained a healthy respect for the turmoil of adolescence. What adds to the confusion is the missing happy medium. We need a balance between the fear factor that I grew up with, the wholesomeness of the Anderson family, and the more complex challenges of parenting in today’s environment. There is wisdom to be gained from tossing your dirty clothes in the hamper, taking out the garbage, feeding the dog and making your bed.

I was raised with consistency and conviction. While I see myself as more open-minded, flexible and tolerant than my parents were, I remain convinced that our kids need to accept that until they are adults themselves, Mom and Dad really do know best.

 Deborah Breslow is a freelance writer. She lives in Wyckoff, NJ with her husband, Jay and three sons. Visit Breslow’s website at www.djbreslow.com