When are teenagers not teenagers anymore

I agree that kids need to have more responsibility, the problem is that every teen matures at a different rate.  Girls, for example tend to get themselves into less trouble in their teens because they mature more quickly.  The teen doesn't need babying between the ages of 12-18, they need a parent to talk to that they can trust, they need role-models at home, they need disipline.  You need to have your child as close as he/she needs to be in order to make sure that things are OK. If your child isn't getting into trouble at all, the they can be give more space.  However, the more problematic the child is, the more you need to parent them until they day they turn 19.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

In most states, parents are responsible for their children until the child reaches the age of majority. In most cases, that is the age of 18.

You cannot wait until a child is a teen to begin disciplining him or her. Dropping the hammer on a child who has up until that moment been allowed to do whatever he or she wants does NOT teach a child anything except how to be devious.

Children must be taught self-discipline and manners from an early age. Restrictions must be made - and kept. Too often, consequences are announced but never carried out. No wonder teens don't listen, why should they? Nothing happens save for empty threats!