On the flip side, having 16 yr old kids legally able to fend for themselves allows many of my students to lead much better lives. I see a few hundred kids that benefit everyday from such freedom. If granting some spoiled brats the right to tell their parents to f-off means my students can say the same (and say no to abuse the likes of which most people cannot imagine) then I'll take it.
... seemed to have a good head on her shoulders and was starting to become a reasonable teen who seemed to have figured out where she was going in life. (apparently she's a good actor)
There is obviously something going in the background that you (and perhaps even her parents) do not know about.
...not to mention they will now be little leeches on society collecting their first welfare cheques. Oh yay.
...All the kids know of this law and use it constantly to threaten their parents into giving them whatever they want, then they move out anyway because obviously they are ready for the world. I think they are only ready for a good kick in the ass.
I know you're upset, but I know few kids that use that tactic, and I know a LOT of teenagers. Given the demographic of my school's student population, I rail against teen stereotypes every day. Also, my school is located in a very wealthy community, the wealthiest in the province. Money, nice house, nice car, good parental careers are no guarantee of a "great kid." A few of my students come from from "nice" homes where the parents can't figure out where they went wrong. Not saying this happened here, but the thing I hear the most is "but we bought little Johnny/Julie everything they wanted."
If you are a parent of a pre-teen, you need to be on your A-game as they gain independence. Many people I know think the parenting chores ease off, but in reality, as they begin to look like adults they need the most parenting of their lives. Peers will have incredible influence and if your child's peers are the "wrong group" you need to deal with that swiftly. Sounds impossible, but it's not.
