You might find this interview from Frontline interesting – it talks about some research that indicates that the brain functions that manage decisions and consequences are still developing in teenagers (and also that, on average, the girls are ahead of the boys in this development). So saying a teenager has bad judgment is like saying an infant has poor verbal skills – these abilities are still a work in progress.
Likewise the caterer who serves our church. They ask for the number of people expected, and charge $X/head for that number to start, which applies even if less show up. They come prepared to serve about 10% more than that, and charge additional per-head fees for extra people at the event. So if no extras show up, the caterer has lost out on the additional food prepared, but if extras do show, there is food for them (to a point) and the caterer will get more money for them.
That really may be a pretty good summary. In that family it’s fine, and that’s that.
This sounds good, I’ll try to read it tonight.
The teenager was inappropriate, the dad was appropriate.
Later and in private, I hope the dad sat his son down and explained how screwed up it was.
The dad handled it well. I’m sure he spoke to the brother later, which was the appropriate thing to do.
And I hope the friend realized that jeans aren’t appropriate at a Bar Mitzvah.
The mere thought that my older brother would deign my party worthy enough to invite friends to… :eek:
who would have thunk it!? :smack: