Those leeches again

I have a lil cousin who likes to tell me about her day to day life. I appreciate being the big cousin that she feels she can talk to, but at the same time its all so immature. I realize that I am definitely in a different generation. I know she's a kid and they do immature things, but I just wanna say, "Grow up!!" Maybe I expect more from her and I shouldn't. I don't know what its like to go to high school these days. I don't know the pressure she's under. But what I want to do is help her see the bigger picture. Life is bigger than high school. Guys, I know she's not my age. That doesn't change the fact that childish ways irk me. Especially from people who want to say, 'I'm grown'.

I've always felt this burden when people want to tell you about their lives and problems. What do you do? Do you let them make their own mistakes and say nothing? Do you give advice and watch them make the mistake anyway? Sometimes I feel its better to say nothing because at least you don't have to say 'I told you so' at the end of it all. Its better for me anyway. But sometimes I can't help it.

I try to drill into her, learn from my mistakes!! Don't make stupid choices!! The reason I feel like she's in my life right now is because we are so similar and she may be one of the reasons that I have to be in OK right now. I guess I have to get over the immaturity.

Also on my mind about kids, when does it start being OK for people to stop doing the things they were taught as kids? In my friends' class someone asked is it OK for us to call someone a derogatory term if its true? NO! People don't know that its not a good idea to insult someone. Yet we tell our kids, don't say mean things. There are words that adults use that seem fine but if your 3-year-old repeats them, they might just get beat. I believe everything starts with the parents. I'm scared for this next generation with all these babies having babies, they haven't fully developed themselves. And everyone is getting knocked up these days!