h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My Mum had the best way of dealing with difficult teenagers (me) - she would say things like "I know that you are sensible and intelligent enough to know/do what is right, and I TRUST you, so I will leave it up to you." After a comment like that I couldn't possibly rebel for the sake of rebellion and do what I KNEW was wrong. As with most teenagers if she had said "no" I would have done it just to prove that I was independent enough to make my own decisions. On the few occasions where I did make a mistake she would never say "I told you so." she would simply hug me and say "Well, next time you will do better, don't worry, remember it, put it behind you and get on with life." I therefore could only blame myself for making the wrong choices and had to deal with the consequences. But I always knew that she was there. A very wise woman, my mother.

I would like to cross reference this entry with the following one: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F63395?thread=106109&latest=1 We're talking about rebellious teenagers there as well!