Should I be monitoring what my step daughter is watching?

Question

I have a 14 year old stepdaughter, Lia, who I am very close with and have always trusted. I know she isn't one of those girls who goes out and does drugs or drinks or has s*x. The only thing I'm concerned about is what she's watching on her computer.

Lia's mother got her a laptop for Christmas last year, but because Lia is a very active girl who prefers to be outside she only uses it at night and she is usually talking to me while she's on it, telling me what she's doing. One of her favorite things to do on the computer is watch television through something called "surf the channel"

She usually watches the show "House M.D." which her father and I were not initially thrilled with (there is alot of adult content) but we have come to accept it. Now though she has started to watch shows and movies with her favorite actors from "House"

First it was "The Black Donnelly's" then "Harold and Kumar"

I don't know what else these actors have been in and frankly I'm worried. How do I address this issue?

Answer 1

With our oldest who is nearly 14, we watch with him. We've seen both Harold and Kumar's (I'm not familiar with the other shows) and it's adult humor but he's mature enough to handle it. I think it's up to the individual child. It makes it pretty comfortable for us to talk about topics like drugs and s*x with him. Humor can lead to some really great, in depth conversations with kids (who are pretty with it these days anyway). If she's watching these shows, and you're close, why don't you watch with her and let the conversations go where they may? Our son knows that there is no topic that's off limits and feels pretty comfortable talking with us. Good luck :)

Answer 2

if i were in your shoes i would be concerned but have trust for them  

Answer 3

the actors from harold and kumar have both pretty much only been in the tasteless yet funny as h**l movies.. Harold was a supportng actor in all the American Pie movies"  Kumar was in Van Wilder. it may seem crude humor but it really isnt anything thats gonna put suggestions in a kids head except laughter. besides your step daughter already knows more than the movies are telling her. so watch them with her and have a good laugh the more informed they are the less they are to go out and do stupid things

Answer 4

Thinking back to what I knew about when I was 14, I would not be to worried about  House, I watch it all the time. Now Harold and Kumar is a little different! The new movie is enough to make me blush!  Honestly she knows all about these things anyway like the drugs, s*x and alcohol, I would say as long as there are not nude scene in them it would be OK, nothing she does not already deal with.

Answer 5

nothing shes 14 not 7 , those tv shows are rated tv-14 and pg 13 not x*x

Answer 6

Maybe you could ask her about the shows and have conversations about them.. guide her. And maybe she'll realize that she doesn't like them all that much, and that other shows are more fulfilling.

Answer 7

Its just movies and tv.

I was watching R stuff when I was that age.

I wouldn't make such a big deal.

Answer 8

NO!  Parents like you are the reason kids get into drugs and rebel.  Just trust her!  Annd even if she is watching p**n or a rated R movie it's not going to hurt her!  even catholic kids do it once in a while... it's completely normal this day and age.  get used to it! it's not like she doesn't know about s*x, alcohol, drugs, guns, violence.... i'm assuming she goes to a public school, so you'd be surprised what she knows!

Answer 9

Address your concerns to your spouse, Lia's mother, to confirm IF you'll be backed up should a conflict erupt from Lia.

Step parents enter into dangerous waters when they address serious family issues with their step-children--and risk falling victim to The Step-Parent Blues.

I've seen The Step-Parent Blues wreck marriages---so venture CAREFULLY into this issue.