How do you tell a 13 year old that she is not able to watch some PG13 movies?

We have a thirteen year old, soon to be fourteen year old daughter. What a precarious and joyous age! No! Those two words are not meant to be oxymoronic! They are real lived. They are well worn.

It is paradoxical that as much as you want your child to grow up, mature and show maturity; in some areas, growing up exposes a whole new meaning of life. The absurdity of having lived for only 13 years seems to qualify one for a barrage of entitlements. These entitlements include a front-row seat in a theatre or on a home sofa to watch a sexually-tinged movie; violence-ridden door-buster; or just simply a story line loaded with romance that will blow your ears off! My daughter’s friends come to school excited about the Orange is the New Black series. I have never watched it, but they seem to inform my daughter that it is a great storyline; in fact the best!

Well, I conducted my research, and we came to the conclusion regarding its storyline that it was not appropriate for her to watch. There are many movies which are PG 13 that her friends have watched, and yet I feel like she is not mature enough to watch them. And maybe ‘not mature’ is the wrong phrase, I feel I won’t watch them either! Does that make me immature? No! It makes me selective. Yes, That is it! I am selective for her!

I do not want to diminish 13 year olds! They are not as young as we would think; and they are resolute and can make excellent calls. Our daughter is bright and she can decode and strain out whatever info she is well aware is not edifying. What is one to do? Are you to let your child watch everything labeled PG13, all because they have hit that milestone; or you use your judgment and do the ‘PG’(parental guidance) that is necessary and required. I feel impelled to give the PG more levity than to give the fact that she is 13 an overriding reach. I feel that what you take in can take a hold. I want a strain. I want a strain for myself, and I am her mom! I don’t want to watch everything; I don’t want to listen to everything; I don’t want to participate in everything. I want to have the ability to strain things out and chose what will be good for my walk with the Lord. I pray that I will always guide her to go for a heavenly strain; not one based on fear, prejudice, past failures; but a strain based on God’s truth and holiness.

Linda Faith

Linda faith is the editor of Jewels Magazine. She co-pastors along with her husband Revival Worship Church, Tampa. She is a prolific writer and powerful speaker, inspiring many women to be all God has called them to be. She is the founder of Joy Women’s conference which reaches out to empower, inspire and motivate women in their faith walk.