24 years ago, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (Will Smith) dropped their timeless teen anthem "Parents Just Don't Understand." More than two decades later, parents still buy us clothes that seem like they're "from 1963," and claim that we "don't need" friends who laugh at our "Brady-bunch trousers." But even the Fresh Prince (now an awesome parent himself, by the way) would have been horrified to see the things parents don't understand about teens today. It turns out he was right: "Parents are the same no matter time nor place." Without further adieu, here are 10 of the most annoying things parents just don't understand about teens today.
1. Parents just don't understand that not all teens like Justin Bieber and One Direction.
Parents, sure a ton of teens are Beliebers and Directioners (just look at how many followers they have on Twitter!), but I can assure you, there are plenty of us who aren't exactly happy about the fact that if Biebs were our boyfriend, he would never let us go. And there are many of us who would run away if we saw five British boys chasing after us on the beach. So, to all the parents who are thinking about what to get their teens for their birthdays, ask us before buying the new Justin Bieber perfume at Macy's.
2. Parents just don't understand that we know they weren't perfect in high school, either.
Parents, when you get mad at us for staying out past our curfew and going out with our friends on the weekends, stop pretending you weren't doing the same things when you were teens. We have all seen the hair you guys tried to pull off in the '80s. And if those weren't "out past your curfew" boots, then I don't know what were.
3. Parents just don't understand that they don't need to apologize for cursing...
Parents, as nice as it is that you guys try to protect the innocence of our ears, you really don't have to apologize for cursing. Believe us, we've heard curse words before. In fact, we need curse words to get us through bad test scores and annoying classes. So, when you forget I'm in the car and curse out the driver next to you for cutting into your lane, please don't apologize. Thanks!
4. Parents just don't understand that we've heard worse than Howard Stern.
Similarly, parents, you don't have to change the channel on the radio or the TV whenever Howard Stern comes on the screen. Right when you leave the room, we can stream his radio show or watch America's Got Talent on the computer. No need to be martyrs. We can all enjoy Howard together.
5. Parents just don't understand that we don't "Twitter." We tweet.
Parents, you would never say that we should "books." You would say that we should "read books." So don't tell us to stop "twittering." If you are going to pester us about what we do on the Internet, at least use the correct verb and tell us to "stop tweeting."
6. Parents just don't understand why we would want to make our photos look "old."
Parents, we get that you might be self-conscious about aging. That's totally normal! But seriously, when we make photos look old on Instagram or Hypstamatic, we aren't giving ourselves wrinkles and turning our hair gray. Aging photos and aging middle-aged parents are not the same thing. We make our photos black and white because old photos look cool. Unlike old people. Unless, of course, they are named Betty White.
7. Parents just don't understand that a movie being rated "R" won't prevent us from going to see it.
Seriously, parents, how do you think The Hangover did so well if no teens under the age of 18 lied about how old they were on Fandango to buy tickets? As much as we like acronyms (LOL, OMG, JK) we don't really care about what the MPAA has to say about what movies we're allowed to see.
8. Parents just don't understand that we find it creepy when they give us the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.
Parents, we don't need your endorsement to look at the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. We are just as weirded out by the prospect of you thinking that we would enjoy looking at those pictures as you are by the prospect of us enjoying looking at those pictures. So please keep the Sports Illustrated with Kate Upton on the cover wherever you keep the Sports Illustrated with Lebron on the cover. Thanks.
9. Parents just don't understand that we know what going away to "celebrate their anniversary" means.
No explanation needed. Ew.
10. Parents just don't understand that we honestly do love them.
No matter how annoying they are or how much they don't understand, we know how much they love us. And we love them back.
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11. Parents just don't understand that sometimes a teenager posts 'Parents just don't understand' lists to be humorous.
Seriously. This isn't serious.
Whereas I've never faced this with my parents, fact is, a lot of adults are pretty bad judges of character. Like my middle school teachers. Goodness, they were so WRONG about me! They didn't get me AT ALL, and made my life pretty difficult. It took me a long time to realize that I'm the smart one, I'm the one who's right, and they are at best VERY bad at their job. I can only imagine how much worse it would have been if my parents had been like that
"Give birth, and you shall see."
Parents are not perfect, many are even clueless, but most of us understand more than this article gives us credit for, because we have all been in your shoes before and have the benefit of hindsight.
Sure times change, technology changes, but people don't.
And for heaven's sake, lighten up! Your kids are watching! Do you want them to think a percentage of you well worth noticing is hyper-defensive or has no sense of humor or perspective? Why prove what they may at this point only suspect?
2. Yes, that's why until I graduated my mother kept telling me how her father WAS perfect in high school (valedictorian).
3. My parents don't apologize.
4. Yes, they certainly realize that.
5. I don't think my parents have ever had significant conversations with me that involved Twitter.
6. I don't care how old I look. I just cared that I looked good in my JROTC uniform and starting very soon, my New Mexico Military Institute uniform.
7. They know that very well. I don't watch movies, I prefer video games. They haven't had any objections to me playing M-rated games in a very long time.
8. I don't remember ever receiving that. I don't know what I would do with it either. If I wanted to see minimally-dressed women, I have the internet. They know that and they've accepted that they can't stop me.
9. I don't think I've ever heard that phrase.