Growing up, my parents always used to tell me and my sisters, "Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are. Always choose your friends wisely because they will have an influence on you." It may not have seemed "fun" to me and my sisters back then, but I am grateful for our parents' constant watchfulness. They didn't permit us to go to our friends' houses for sleepovers, but were happy to host sleepovers in our home so they could keep an eye on everything we did. Looking back, I value the fact that my parents told me "No". "No" doesn't always mean "strict". Many times, it means "I love you". Think about traffic lights for a second. Red lights exist to avoid head-on collisions. It's the same with the power to say "no" which God has entrusted to parents. Restrictions prevent head-on collisions with negative influences - no matter how harmless or innocent they may seem in the beginning. Parental foresight is a gift children may not always understand and appreciate at such a young age, but parents who fear the Lord are God's gifts to young, innocent and impressionable children. Boundaries and limits exist to protect and prevent evil, harm and danger. Now that I'm married, my husband and I appreciate the words of wisdom freely given to those who are willing to take the time to read and invest in the future and education of their families - both in the present and future. To my friends who love reading and are searching for inspiring books to read, Kerwin and I highly recommend "The Adventist Home" and "Child Guidance" by Ellen White. It's not just for people who are married and have families, it's practically for everyone! These books have helped us make so many changes in our courtship, marriage and home so we can make room for God and what truly matters in light of eternity. In the end, it's not about how "street-smart" we are, but how Biblically-wise we are as we wait for God's second coming. Here's a paragraph from my afternoon read: Guard the Associations—If parents desire their children to be pure, they must surround them with pure associations such as God can approve. [5] – {CG 114.2} With what care parents should guard their children from careless, loose, demoralizing habits! Fathers and mothers, do you realize the importance of the responsibility resting on you? Do you allow your children to associate with other children without being present to know what kind of education they are receiving? Do not allow them to be alone with other children. Give them your special care. Every evening know where they are and what they are doing. Are they pure in all their habits? Have you instructed them in the principles of moral purity? If you have neglected to teach them line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, let not another day pass without confessing to them your neglect to do this. Then tell them that you mean now to do your God-appointed work. Ask them to take hold with you in the reform. [6] – {CG 114.3} Neighbors may permit their children to come to your house to spend the evening and the night with your children. Here is a trial and a choice for you, to run the risk of offending your neighbors by sending their children to their own home, or gratify them, and let them lodge with your children, and thus expose them to be instructed in that knowledge which would be a lifelong curse to them. To save my children from becoming corrupted, I have not allowed them to sleep in the same bed, or in the same room, with other boys, and have, as occasion has required, when traveling, made a scanty bed upon the floor for them, rather than have them lodge with others. I have tried to keep them from associating with rough, rude boys and have presented inducements before them to make their employment at home cheerful and happy. By keeping their minds and hands occupied, they have had but little time, or disposition, to play in the street with other boys and obtain a street education. [7] – {CG 114.4}