Parenting is truly one of the hardest jobs a person can ever do. No child comes with a guidebook and every child is a different. The fruits of parenting also come years after the hard work, discipline, love and time that you invest in your child.

Probably since the dawn of time and when humans began to walk upright teens have wanted to congregate with other teens. This is an age old custom as many of us who are slightly older might remember; we hung out at car hops and drive-ins.

In those days, if a policeman told you to move on, you did what you were told. Today many teens are not as cooperative and cities have been forced to put in place curfews to assist parents in the management of their teens.

The city of Conyers has such a curfew. Teenagers under the age of 16 are not allowed to be out on city streets 9:30 p.m. - 6 a.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. - 6 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays without being accompanied by an adult, except for certain exceptions.

We suggest that you monitor your teens if they choose to go to a late movie. Make plans to pick them up right after the show is over.

As parents it is your responsibility to see that your children obey the law. The courts can enact fines and penalties on you, as parents, for your child's behavior.

So put in the time with your children now, while they are children, before they become teenagers. Surround them with good influences and environments. By the time they are teens, they are already out in the world, for better or for worse.