Dear Abby: Reader's now thankful she had a strict mom

Posted: January 05, 2012

DEAR ABBY: I was sure "Emotionally Abused in California's" letter was inspirational, but fictional. The 15-year-old writer felt her mother was unreasonable because of the rules Mom enforced and the chores the teen was required to do. Then I started re- reading my high-school diary.

My mom also didn't let me go to parties if she didn't know the parents and confirm they'd be home; my curfew was 11:30 p.m. on weekends because Mom couldn't sleep until I was in for the night. She always offered to host Friday pizza-and-movie night at our home to ensure my friends and I had a safe place to hang out.

Like "Emotionally Abused," I also resented my lack of freedom, but because of her efforts, I never had run-ins with the law, never got an STD or became pregnant, and I didn't try drugs or alcohol. When I expressed my frustration, Mom would say, "When you're a parent, you'll understand."

Now that I have two small children, I DO understand. I hit the Mom jackpot! I'm grateful for her guidance, love and the boundaries she set for me.

- Won the Jackpot in Michigan

DEAR WON THE JACKPOT: When that letter hit print, I was overwhelmed with mail from readers supporting my response and sharing experiences. I took special note of the responses from teens, which I'll share tomorrow. To read a longer version of this column, go to DearAbby.com.

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