Do any of these kids do chores for their allowances. Maybe then it would be more meaningful to them. Or better yet, start a savings account, then they will not have to worry about what their friends have to say.
You know when I was young (admittedly a while ago) my girl friends and I wanted to be different than everyone else. While everyone was doing drugs, we made the dicision to be drug free. What ever was the fad, we figured out an alternative and went with that. Actually we had a great time. and had lots of friends because we had no prejudices.
You should read the whole article through. Some kids do chores. Some kids do zilch. And some kids are making $$$ running afterschool poker games, troubleshooting computers, selling black market smokes (this is NYC, remember) and event-managing weekend parties.
Truth is zanier than fiction (esp. in the Big Apple).
Well admittedly California back then was a bit more laid back than NYC today. Frankly, I don't see how kids can be kids in NYC.
We live in a rural rapdily becoming suburban area and it's just as bad here.
Some of our more affluent neighbors' kids were caught being curriers for cocaine dealers.
Gambling rings, promiscuity, abortions......and this was over ten years ago.
I'm glad I dont' know what's going on now with the high schoolers.