Church organization relating to kids

[mikroscosmo]

Hi all,

I need some advice and opinions regarding the age at which a parent no longer has authority to decide what is best for their child and to enforce those decisions. I realize that the roles and responsibility of a parent are eternal and that a parent must always try to help their children make good choices, but at what age can a parent no longer force their child to do something (i.e. be a vegetarian). Is it 18 when the child becomes a head of their own household? Or is it when they get married? Is the age different for men and women?

MC

[Jennarator]

18 would be the legal age, however if they are living at home, you can enfoce home rules. If they don't like it, or live with it, you can legally kick them out. Now, of course there is a lot more than that to consider. Prayer and even having a good conversation with that child can help. If you are loooking specificlly on being vegitatian, I would consider the "No meat in this house rule" weather or not they live there. But you can't really control if they eat meat when not around. On the other habd if they are doing drugs, and you find out, weather or not they do it at home, I would make sure they knew that was not tollerated. I would say if I find proof your are doing anything illegal, you will not be living at home any longer.

Please take my opinion at face value, my oldest kids are 10. I do, however have some expierience as I was married to an addict for 10 years, and now he lives with his parents, for I do have some opnion. But, there might be opinions out there that have more expierence and bacground. That might help you better.

[nymormon]

As a rule, we are responsible for our children as long as they are under the age of 18. Up to that age, we have the right, and authority, to tell our children what to do, and they should honor our wishes. Even when we have the right to tell our kids what to do, they have their agency to honor our wishes or not. After the age of 18, if we are still paying their bills, we can still tell them what to do. But, once they are out on their own -- in their own apartment, working and paying their own bills -- then we most of the time have to bite our lip, or wait for an opportunity to counsel with them about what they are doing, or about our concerns. Also, consider that if they are doing anything illegal that you have the responsibility to report them to the proper authorities.

If you have adult children living in your home, you need to have a family council and make up house rules. These rules need to be agreed upon by everyone in the house. I have simple rules in my house, and my adult children have honored them. Currently only one of my adult children lives with us. One of my children has managed to go in the opposite direction of what we taught. I work hard to respect all of my children. I love my children, I just don't have to love the way they live their lives. I keep praying that they will discover that the Church is the best place to be.