14 yr old DS has a friend whose parents are really uptight and controlling. He makes me nervous, because he is sneaky, and I know he lies to his parents all of the time. On the 4'th of July, he brought some little fireworks over (more like large sparklers!) I didn't think twice about letting he and DS light them under our close supervision - afterwards he pleaded with me to never mention it to his Mom because she would "totally freak out and ground him forever."

They will not allow him to have a cell phone under any circumstances, even if he pays the bill. So stalked the local electronics store until he found a salesman who would sell him a disposable phone. I found out what was going on after I found a strange cell phone charger in DS's room, and he told me he had asked him to charge it for him and keep it when he was around his parents.

8 yr old DS has a friend whose parents are so overprotective, I am surprised they don't make him wear full body armor to play in the backyard! They are total "worry-worts" and don't let him take part in activities the other kids enjoy - i.e. playing any sports, jumping on a trampoline, riding a go-kart - the list goes on. I cannot stand the kid because he is sneaky, and always trying to "one up" the other kids - I think trying to compensate for not being allowed to do anything.

Anyway, the point I am getting at is, while I know both of these kids parents thinkthey are protecting their kids, I think they are really training them to be deceitful and sneaky...

LOL! I must admit, I am guilty of that! DS has a few friends whose homes I would never let him spend the night - but they are welcome here - under DH and I's watchful eyes. Although it does get old seeming to always have a house full of kids - I would much rather them be here, where I know what they are up to than somewhere else where the parents have no clue what they are up to!

I don't think we are even much more permissive than many of the other parents, but I think the kids feel more comfortable around us vs. other parents just because we are a lot younger, and can relate to them more about things like music, movies, fashion, etc...