[nancynic]

Hi,

Have you seen
the Movie 'Thirteen' ?

It's out on video and DVD and is amazing!

Let us know what you thought of it.

Thanks,
NancyNic
Parent Forums Moderator

[kay]

I have not seen it, and doubt that I will. Perhaps I "should", as I understand it's really realistic as to some of the teen stuff that's going on out there - but I'm not ready for my 13 year old son to watch R rated movies, and I have so many other things to do when he's not around, that purposely making time to watch that type of movie is not real high on my list.

[Eleanorrigby]

Yes, my best friend and I watched that movie while our 13 yr old
girls were in school. I thought it was frightening. Its everything
and everyone you hope to protect your child from. I would never let my kids see it. Dont watch it unless you want to be sick for a day and bothered for weeks.

[Catlover]

I saw it on video at home. I'm in the process of adopting a 14 year old girl. It WAS frightening, because you can see how that could happen.

The reason I saw it was because I feel I need to be prepared for the worst. Obviously, I hope and pray for the best. But I try and learn all I can through movies, books, other parents and kids.

Movies like this can help me prepare by serving as a warning in advance. It doesn't mean I'll catch all suspicious behavior if it occurs, but it may help.

[Eleanorrigby]

You must be an angel. Every child needs a good home and age 14 is still a child - believe it. I have adopted 13 and 15 year old girls -these are difficult ages. If you watched that movie "13" - that mother was a weakling for the most part. She put herself before her children-- First mistake. Second mistake was not having a dad or any decent male figure around.
All good things to you on your upcoming adoption!!!

[wenrl]

My partner and I saw 13 several months ago and had different reactions. She was horrified and depressed. I was not even remotely surprised as this is exactly how my friends were at 13. I was not so "lucky" since I had parents who acted like parents and by 14 these kids were not my friends because I was way too boring for them and getting grounded all the time whenever we did anything anyway. It did make both of us think how we can make sure that our daughter does not end up like this. I think the hardest fact is that we can be as supportive and there for her as we like, but we cannot pick her friends. We can talk to her and get her involved in herself and the community, but we cannot stop her from meeting whomever she likes at school or trying to be like them. If she is drawn to friends like the girls in 13, our fight will be a million times more difficult. Our child is absolutely beautiful and I make jokes that we should start feeding her all the candy and junk she wants now, so we won't have to fight off the boys later. Maybe we should also invest in the nerdiest clothes now and some glasses and a retainer with headgear, so that girlfriends will be hard to make too. Excuse my rude sense of humor. Anyway, yes 13 is scary, especially when thinking of our own kids.