Did you ever want to apologize to your parents for your teens....

[vi5]

I've never actually formally apologized to them for being a whiney, snotty, occasionally nasty teenager who slacked off on his school work, fed them blatant untruths, and didn't appreciate the things that they did and sacrificed to give me what they did.

I'm not sure they need the apology since I think they realize this just in the way I've grown up and lived my life in the 15-20 years since that time, and the things I've accomplished and the way I've behaved since those tumultuous teen years and how close I remain to them to this day. And they do realize that they were lucky that I was never into anything that would have any long term harmful effects on my life.

But still there were days and times when I was admittedly a handful to deal with and, they handled it like champs. Especially considering that they were both totally traditional, straight and narrow, never in a lick of trouble devout people since they were kids so it must have been double confusing dealing with a rabble rousing, black clothes wearing, radical liberal atheist son who listened to way too much heavy metal and punk rock.

[Kamika]

1. good question

But no.. all teenagers rebel

[vi5]

3. Oh, I realize this completely....

And like I said, the ways in which I rebelled were probably infinitely preferable to them than the many other ways that were out there and available to me.

But still, there's always that lingering guilt and regret over specific instances which never actually gets said.

I guess I'll just consider them never having found out that I smoked cigarettes for 10 years to be an unspoken thanks.

[frylock]

2. i have, and i did.

They were quite appreciative. All in all, an uplifting experience.

[jus_the_facts]

4. Yep and do all the time too....

...and they me as well...we went through a LOT of shit all the way around...sad but true!x(

[kayell]

5. Yes, and I did (several times)

Having to deal with a troubled teenager myself was a real eye opener. By the way, she is doing great now and well out of adolecense and actually has apologized to me!

[Speck Tater]

6. Who me? I was perfect. Just ask my parents.

On second thought, don't ask my parents, just take my word for it.

[Bertha Venation]

7. bloody hell, NO!

No freaking way, man.

[THUNDER HANDS]

8. No

You're supposed to be a handful when you're a teenager. It's a rite of passage passed down to every generation of parents.

Kids have nothing to be ashamed of.

Or, rather, at least I don't. I was an angel, though. :)

[DrWeird]

9. Maybe when they apologize to me

for not letting me see Nightmare on Elm Street.

[vi5]

11. Wow. This just made me laugh out loud....

It's exactly the type of thing that would seem huuuuuuuge as a teenager. I could probably have thought of a couple hundred things in the same vein.

[Bertha Venation]

13. a pal went to see "The Exorcist" on his Confirmation Day....

[patdem]

10. What about the tortures parents do...much more horrible

I was raped when I was 11 years old and when my mother was called to the police station her first question was...'Why did you do this to me?'
When we got home she told me to 'wash the filth off your body'...
What ever I did after that...which was run away because I did NOT want to show up for the prosecution of people who raped me when according to my mother it MUST have been my fault....so my mother sent me to reform school...I was 'incorrigable'...I do not even think it is the lexicon of the juvenille justice system any longer...but back then....a parent could claim it for what ever reason. I had friends at reform school who's step fathers had raped them...and the mothers got rid of the problem by the 'incorrigable factor'...Not all parents need to forgive the teen...some teens need to forgive the partents...and I have suddenly decided forgiveness is not a part of my life, since my parent has not sought any forgiveness!!

[vi5]

12. O.K.....a whole different level from what I was talking about...

I sympathize and can understand how this would impact your relationship and I am sorry to hear of your pain.

[regularguy]

14. They should apologize to me

for having me witness their nightmare of a marriage on a daily basis. But: I turned out ok, I hold no grudges (ok not too many), and we now have an decent relationship. They got divorced, but too late for it to do me any damn good.


Cheers!

[DemBones DemBones]

15. It never hurts to show appreciation of the people who love you

and cared for you for many years.

Most parents will admit that they made mistakes, too. Being the parent of a teenager is not fun.

[proud patriot]

16. Yes and I did

Felt good too

[Booberdawg]

17. Hell No!

Mine should have been in jail or a psych ward!

[patdem]

18. Mine too...but parents were allowed to tourture children

and children could be sent away for any reason...at least when I was a kid.

[prolesunited]

19. I did

as well I should have. I was quite the wild child. My mom had been quite ill before she died, so we had plenty of time during those long hours in the hospital to make peace. I'm glad I did.

[StClone]

20. I think it is better

To forgive yourself.

[Nikia]

21. They have more to apologize about

My teen years were hell and my parents were a big part of that. When I read my old diaries from those years, I am suprised that I didn't kill myself or at least ran away. I am proud of my younger self for enduring throught that. To make a long story short, my parents had been divorced since I was a toddler. My mother married an evil abusive guy when I was eleven. My father had married a woman that was always jealous of me a couple years before. My evil step father was super jealous so my parents went from being almost friends to hating each others guts. My sister and I were expected to relay messages between them and they'd always be angry. My mother and step father fought all the time and we had to leave in the middle of the night a couple of times. We were treated like slaves. It was a crime to watch television if the house and the drive way were not spotless and we were always insulted. Some other abuse as well My mother worked a lot and doing anything for us was a big hassle. We were expected to be perfect in every way and yelled and and insulted if we were not in some minor way. My father backed a way a bit but said that it was our fault for not standing up to our mother. I finally moved in with my father after being horribly harassed all summer by my mother who said "You are dead to me, I have no daughter." It wasn't too horrible living with my dad and step mother except we were poor and I wasn't suppose to eat too much and if I had some extra slices of bread to make up for it my step mother took it personally. She was rather moody and verbally abusive, but not as bad as my mother or stepfather. I graduated high school with straight As, did well in sports, was involved in many activities, never even got a detention, and did not get drunk or use any drugs until after I had gone away from home. I suppose that isn't too short of a story. I have been trying to get over it so I can forgive my mother after all this. I haven't spoken to her for over a year after she told me that my husband and I were losers and said that I was much too sensitive but "how dare I talk to my mother like that" when I tried to defend myself. That conversation just reminded me of all the pain I experienced growing up. It is tough to get over that especially when things haven't changed that much.

[patdem]

22. I can totally relate...my mother is now very sick..the last time she

called me was to ask if I would do her taxes. I just stopped seeing her because seeing her was her having me do for her and when it was time to leave she would dump a guilt trip on me....'do you have to leave now? Can't you stay longer'...I am as torturered now as I was at 11..only this is my choice.

[elfwitch]

23. never got the chance...

My Mom died when I was 20. I didn't realize what a jerk I had been until my mid-20s. Being a parent now, though, i realize that you pretty much forgive your kids even when they hurt your feelings. So I try to tell myself that she knew I'd eventually realize I was being a jerk and would feel bad about it.

[Rowdyboy]

24. I was a classic teenage asshole

and yes, I did apologise to my mother. I eventually came to see everything through adult eyes and we became very close. My brother and I eventually nursed her through a terminal illness.

I wish some of the earlier posters could have had someone like her. I cannot comprehend your pain because I never felt anything close it it.