Things I've learned...

After spending four years coaching high school cheerleaders and being "friended" by many of them on the 'book, I can tell you there are some lessons I've learned from them. Because I know not all of you spend that much time with high school girls (nor should some of you) I've decided to share with you some of what I've learned.

First and foremost, the most important lesson I'll be taking away from all this time is that my daughter (probably my son too, but my experience is strictly with young women), will be allowed to have a facebook profile with ONE condition. I am allowed TOTAL access to any and all information. Her wall, her photos, her friends, EVERYTHING. I can't even tell you how many times I've been looking at the 'book and said to myself, "Woah, if her parents only knew." I can say this because I know most of their parents. I've met them and interacted with them and am pretty confident they'd DIE to see that picture of her wasted. To know she's not "sleeping at her friend's house" and instead is in the shortest skirt I've ever seen (they might have just been underwear) at some house party in Madison. So yes, future daughter, you can absolutely have facebook like all your friends. But you may not be a drunken whore (or at least look like one) in what can best be described as a bathing suit with some guy who looks no less than a decade older than you. At least not without me seeing it!

Did I do "naughty" things in high school? Of course, who didn't? (My mom, that's who. She's notoriously the goody two shoes of the family.) Fortunately for me, there was no facebook in high school. Unfortunately for me, my crafty parents let me get drunk when I was a junior in high school on our spring break trip and I spilled the beans. ALL THE BEANS. Then when I thought I was done, I spilled some more.

But I can honestly say a few things. One, my dad NEVER would have let me out of the house in what the "kids these days" are wearing. I'm 10 years older than most of them and even I don't own clothes that "grown up". Seriously, sometimes for fun I show him pictures of my cheerleaders to see his reaction. He'd have locked me in my room for the remainder of high school. Two, my mom taught me how to put on make-up and that the goal was to look natural. And by "natural" I don't mean "naturally a raccoon." There is such a thing as too much eyeliner. Just saying. T

I know I'm aging myself by saying all this "kids these days" stuff. But seriously, it's lessons I'll take if I ever have a teenage daughter (heaven help me). It makes me thankful dad told me put more clothes on. I'm glad mom told me to wear less make-up. Of course I hated it then, but I'm thankful now.

I know not all girls are like this. I have some former cheerleaders who are stand-up young women and I couldn't be more proud of who they've become. They are smart and respectful not only to others but to themselves. They give me hope that I can raise one of the "good ones." But seriously, is there anything scarier than a teenage daughter?