Basic Age Guidelines And Rules For My Future Kids
It should come as no small surprise that I want to be a mom, and have a bunch of kids, and raise my kids to be good Catholics, and be able to think for themselves and make wise choices, while still obeying proper authority!
Over my 22 years of life, I have seen various parenting rules in place from my Mom, as well as my friends’ mothers.
As I begun to think about having kids, I have compiled a list of
BASIC RULES—And ages at which these rules will be implemented. I already know that many will view these rules as “silly” “unneeded” or “harsh” and I know that I will be viewed as the unpopular opinion puffin, but these rules make sense to me, and I will be doing my best to use them when my kids enter my life.
Let’s get started.
Piercings for my daughters.
They can have their first piercing for their First Holy Communion. If they choose not to, then it can be anytime afterwards. But I figured that 7 or 8 is a good age for their first earrings.
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Second piercing.
My daughter’s can get their second hole (in the lobe—no cartilage piercings on my watch!) when they are Confirmed. So between 13 and 15. Some churches Confirm kids at 15.
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There will be no third hole until they are 18, and cartilage and other body piercings are TOTALLY BANNED until my girls are out of my house, and off my insurance. I’m not paying for your infected piercings.
Piercings for my sons
If you are over 18 and out of my house and not on my insurance, then go for it.
Tattoos
My rule will be the same across the board for all of my children—both the
boys and girls.
You are NOT ALLOWED ANY INK WHATSOEVER UNTIL you are
(A) over 21
(B) no longer living under my roof and
(C) are off my insurance.
I don’t hate tattoos, but I will not let my kids get inked under my watch.
If, once they are on their own and off my insurance, they so choose to get a tattoo, I will highly recommend that they go to a priest and have that tattoo blessed.
If they so choose to come home with a tattoo, EVERYTHING WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM. Cell phones, their car (I will drive them to work or school and then home again), their various tech items, their social lives.
Their lives would be on lockdown for as long as their Dad and I want it to be so that they learn their lesson.
Ipods
There will be no iPods for my kids until they are 13.
Then there will be rules for the use of the iPod.
(A) Mom and Dad oversee ALL MUSIC AND APPS PUT ON THE iPOD
(B) No using the iPod at night (after 7 pm)
(C) iPod will be placed in a special “Mom and Dad Tech Lock Box” at night.
(D) Chargers will be in Mom and Dad’s possession. If you fail to keep up with chores, then you can watch the power on your precious iPod dwindle away to nothing.
Feel free to use your iPod-free time catching up on those chores.
(E) No earbuds in while in the same room as Mom, Dad or any adults.
Computer
The PC in my house will be in a COMMON AREA (except for my laptop, which will be MINE and only mine) so that Mom and Dad can keep a close eye on what the kids are doing on the computer.
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(A) ONLY get on the websites that are on the MOM AND DAD APPROVED LIST. Getting on any other sites will mean you forfeit your allowance for two weeks.
(B) No adding pictures onto the PC without parent’s approval. This leads to a very cluttered PC.
(C) No games unless they are approved by Mom and Dad, and those will be set in a special box next to the PC.
(D) No social media until you are of age.
(E) You can get an email account when you are 14 and Mom and Dad will have your password, otherwise, you will not have an email account.
(F) If you are in need of a laptop, you must purchase one on your own, and Mom and Dad will have all passwords, etc until you are over 18 and out of the home.
Facebook
I got my Facebook page when I was 16 ½. So that will be the rule for my kids too.
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(A) You must be 16 and ½ to get a FB page.
(B) Your first friends will be Mom and Dad and we will know your password.
We will be keeping up with you.
(C) There will be no friending people you do not know. If that happens, your account will be suspended for a month.
(D) No inappropriate photos, or posts on your page. This will result in a week long suspension of your account.
Instagram
My little sister and I got our IG accounts when were 19.
My kids can get an IG account at 19.
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(A) Mom and Dad have your password.
(B) Follow Mom and Dad FIRST then any of your siblings or close relatives.
(C) Keep your account set at PRIVATE
(D) Any inappropriate photos will result in a very long lecture from Dad and Mom plus we might even report your account numerous times and we will sit you down and make you remove said questionable photo.
Cell Phones
Want a cell phone? Sure, you can get one when you are 16, but you have to buy it yourself. Once you get it, here are the rules:
(A) Mom and Dad have full access to your phone.
We will have the passcode to it and will be permitted to go through your photos, apps, and contacts and texts whenever we so choose.
(B) No chores? No phone.
(C) If you use up all your minutes or go over your monthly usage, you are paying out of pocket for that, or else, you will wind up with an unactivated cell phone. (Mom’s been there. It stinks.)
(D) No being on the phone at night. (You can stick it in the tech lockbox at 8pm)
(E) Mom has your chargers. Same deal as with the iPod.
Pets
This is a big deal to me, because I want my kids to have pets, and to learn responsibility for an animal. It’s a good skill for them to have.
At birth, my kids will deal with whatever dog or cat Mom and Dad may previously own.
At age 4 they will learn to feed the dogs and cats.
At age 6 my kids can get either a goldfish, or a hermit crab as their very first pet.
**My kids will also learn to ride horses at age 6 and will begin to learn to care for horses.**
At age 8, my kids can get either a rabbit, a guinea pig, a hamster, or a large fancy rat.
***Care for any of these animals will fall on the child who owns that animal, or else Mom will take responsibility, and will not let the child play with the animal. It is now MOMMY’S PET. MOMMY LOVES ANIMALS.***
NO CATS OR DOGS WILL BE PERMITTED UNLESS PICKED OUT BY MOM OR DAD.
These are animals with more responsibility to them, so it is the parent’s job to bring them into the household.
Cars, ATV’s, Motorcycles
My children will be allowed to get their learners permit at 16.
I know that this is when most kids get their drivers licenses, but I am not ready to
let my kids do that.
Once my kids have done the required driving, drivers ed, and have passed their road test (oh Lord, I’m already sweating just thinking about it!), here are the following rules.
(A) The car is the FAMILY CAR.
(B) Each family car will have a cell phone attached to the keys.
You must use that phone to call home when you arrive and leave your destination.
(C) If you have your own car, you will have to purchase it with your own money, that you have saved from your job, and you will pay for your auto insurance yourself.
So go get a job.
(D) Any driving offenses that are committed behind the wheel of the family car, and we will take away your permission to drive the family car. Start walking.
(E) Any speeding tickets that you may incur will be paid out of your own pocket.
You may drive an ATV IF AND ONLY IF you:
(A) have the proper helmets and safety equipment.
(B) Have had lessons on proper ATV safety.
There will be no dirt-bikes or motorcycles until you are over 21, not living at home under my care, and are paying your own insurance. Even then, I expect you to follow the ATV rules.
Clothing
Fashion is a big deal when you are a tween/teen.
But it needs rules, especially when you are trying to raise decent kids.
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For my daughters—
(A) No belly shirts. PERIOD. Not until you are out of my house and over 18.
(B) No heels with shorts or jeans. It looks beyond trashy.
(C) No skirts that you can’t bend over in.
(D) No see through shirts that show off your neon bra (or no bra if you think your’e a fashion rebel or something.)
(E) No lude or evil sayings or images on any article of clothing that you are wearing. Any clothes with said images will be tossed in the burn pit. Not joking.
(F) If you want expensive name brand clothes, I suggest you get a job or save gift money. Mommy isn’t paying $50 for a pair of skinny jeans for you.
(G) My girls can get their first pair of heels for their Confirmation (so either at age 13 or 15, depending on how old they are when they are Confirmed.)
(H) You must wear leggings with short skirts (anything two inches above the knee) or you will have to change your outfit.
For my sons—
(A) KEEP YOUR PANTS PULLED UP TO YOUR WAIST!
(that pretty much covers it for the guys.)
Okay here are a couple more:
(B) No lude or evil sayings or images on your clothes.
(C) You must wear a shirt at all times, unless you are at the beach or are working outside in the burning sun.
(D) Please do not walk around like a thug with chains around your neck, bling in your ears, a backwards snapback, and your pants around your rear. It is disgusting. Have some self-respect.
Makeup
My daughters will be permitted to wear blush for special occasions at the age of 6.
At 7 they can paint their nails (with Mommy approved nail polish colors only) unless it’s for a special occasion like a wedding.
Their first official makeup will be presented to them at 13—it will be what my Mom got me
a natural shade of lipstick
a simple, plain lip gloss,
a palette of blush
brown mascara.
Eyeliner and concealer will be permitted at 15.
After age 16, if they can afford it, they can have it.
**My girls should note that if either I or their Dad say they have too much makeup on, they will be required to take it off, and try to put less on. **
So those are my rules and age guidelines for my future kids.
I pray to God that they will understand that I created these rules with their health, happiness and safety in mind! Even though they aren’t in my life yet, they are already on my mind!
❤
I want my kids to learn about hard work, losing, losing graciously, and learning a skill that they can get good enough at so that they won’t lose and get a participation trophy.
So far, so good. I haven’t had a single reaction to any non-GMO foods. One thing that I do is make my own food. It’s cheaper than buying premade food from the store.
Saint Priscilla, St. Katherine of Alexandria and St. Anne, pray for us!
this blissful little life 