What’s the point? A tale of the youth of today…

Dickens

^It’s everywhere. Starts with society generally; useless parenting then, on to the kids who become the 25yr old driving too close and blaming/abusing others!^

When my son was a young teen, I got word that he was in town making a bit of a nuisance of himself with a similarly aged 'gang'.

My late ex and I got in the car after he'd gone out the next couple of evenings and surreptitiously followed him to find out what was going on. It was nothing horrendous, but he was being a bit of a PITA (I won't go into details of how we followed him around, it was very cloak-and-dagger, and not a very nice thing to have to do).

We had a 'conversation' and rules were laid down, and that was more or less the end of the problem.

I didn't enjoy spying on him, and it was all quite stressful for both him and us. We didn't get anywhere initially by just talking to him and questioning him... so what were we supposed to do as parents knowing that our son was getting up to mischief?

Being a parent is not an easy job, and as kids gain independence, it can become even more difficult. But that's the point - being a parent is a job, and a serious one - you cannot just waive 'bye' to your young adults as they waltz out the door in the evening and assume they're sitting on a wall somewhere chatting to their mates, or riding their bikes around. My son - very tall and mature-looking for his age, was actually frequenting a pub in town, one which had a bit of a reputation! I'd never have known if I hadn't followed him. He was only 14!

Parents need to know what their kids are doing in the evenings when they're out, and they need to engage with them long before they reach that age, too. I think the parents of these vandals have a lot to answer for.

I totally agree. I used to live beside a green and we were regularly kept awake at night by drunk and high as kite teenagers gathering there in the small hours of the morning.
I did judge the parents. They should have known where their children were at that time, and noticed the state they were in when they eventually got home.

The gate is wide enough for a car/van so I can’t bolt it for delivery and post purposes. My house is about 300yards from the gate. If couriers have to walk up they’d just leave parcels down there.

Recently a very young girl (11) was assaulted in an alleyway here. She was out at 11.30 at night, on her own. Her assailants were all around 12,13,14. What on earth are the parents doing letting kids that age wander around the streets late at night ? Quite frankly I think they are not suitable to be parents at all.

I totally agree Nanna8.
I have the CCTV camera covering the road and gate attached to my phone so when anyone comes to the gate it emails me with a photo. It went off at 10.35pm the other night.
The same kids again.
What kind of parent lets their young child roam round at that time of night. They are the ones that scream the loudest when one goes missing.
I have two AC and 3 DGC and non would have been allowed out at that time and definitely would not have backchatted adults.
It’s down to parents who do t give a damn.

bobby please be careful your system doesn't break the law if it captures an area outside your property (eg. part of the road/pavement). Even thees new doorbells can fall foul of the law!
This may be helpful:
ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/domestic-cctv-systems-guidance-for-people-using-cctv/

Vintagejazz

I totally agree. I used to live beside a green and we were regularly kept awake at night by drunk and high as kite teenagers gathering there in the small hours of the morning. I did judge the parents. They should have known where their children were at that time, and noticed the state they were in when they eventually got home.

... it wasn't Twickenham Green by any chance was it? The pub my son frequented was close by - though he was never out that late. He had an 11pm curfew - earlier during term time / exam time.

We never noticed the smell of alcohol - I think he was very conservative in his consumption and the atmosphere in the pub was what attracted him.

But, yes - I also blame the parents. How can you not? Who is responsible for the behaviour of below-age teenagers if not the parents? Apart from anything else - why aren't they worried when their youngsters are out late at night?

I did accidentally bump into him one evening (prior to the time when we decided to follow him) when me and my ex decided to pop into McDonald's for a takeaway coffee. He was sitting at a table with 4 of his mates, each clutching a straw and sharing a large milk shake. They were all skint and clubbed together to buy it and were sitting solemnly slurping when we came across them. I don't know whether that was before or after he'd been to the pub - or his 'club', as he called it . We bought them all some 'fries', dumped them on the table and scooted...

My camera only covers my gate and a portion of the road I own the full length of, so I’m well within my rights. Actually the house opposite came to me a few weeks ago asking if my camera had caught their touring caravan being stolen off their drive but it didn’t operate that far.
You regularly get people putting photos of intruders they have caught on their Ring cameras on local Neighbourhood sites. This is probably illegal but very helpful to the police.

Dickens

Vintagejazz

I totally agree. I used to live beside a green and we were regularly kept awake at night by drunk and high as kite teenagers gathering there in the small hours of the morning. I did judge the parents. They should have known where their children were at that time, and noticed the state they were in when they eventually got home.

... it wasn't Twickenham Green by any chance was it? The pub my son frequented was close by - though he was never out that late. He had an 11pm curfew - earlier during term time / exam time.

We never noticed the smell of alcohol - I think he was very conservative in his consumption and the atmosphere in the pub was what attracted him.

But, yes - I also blame the parents. How can you not? Who is responsible for the behaviour of below-age teenagers if not the parents? Apart from anything else - why aren't they worried when their youngsters are out late at night?

I did accidentally bump into him one evening (prior to the time when we decided to follow him) when me and my ex decided to pop into McDonald's for a takeaway coffee. He was sitting at a table with 4 of his mates, each clutching a straw and sharing a large milk shake. They were all skint and clubbed together to buy it and were sitting solemnly slurping when we came across them. I don't know whether that was before or after he'd been to the pub - or his 'club', as he called it . We bought them all some 'fries', dumped them on the table and scooted...

Nope, a green in the middle of a housing estate. And these kids were there at midnight and afterwards, and had taken more than alcohol. Their parents had a lot to answer for.

Vintagejazz

Nope, a green in the middle of a housing estate. And these kids were there at midnight and afterwards, and had taken more than alcohol. Their parents had a lot to answer for.

... kids out at midnight taking drugs. And alcohol, presumably. I think it's a shocking state of affairs... criminal irresponsibility.

And there's so little the ordinary citizen can do about it.

I know. The police can't seem to do much either. Some parents are a disgrace.

By the way I do realise that some parents, despite their best efforts, have wayward teens that break their hearts.

But there are also those who just can't be bothered, or are more interested in being 'cool' parents than decent, responsible ones.