Sophie Young

VC #13-16

12 YEARS 11 MONTHS
How would you characterize your child at this point in terms of the under-controlled, over-
controlled or resilient categories? Have there been any changes since the preschool period and
why might they have occurred?

At this age, Amelia aligns with the traits of an over-controlled child. She is cooperative
and easily follows classroom rules and directions. At preschool age, Amelia was often anxious
and clingy in new social settings but has opened up more as she gets older. Her 7th grade report
card even referred to her as having “appropriate social interaction with peers, and even seems to
be a kind of peer leader”. This shift in attitude is likely due to her continues exposure to social
settings. I have arranged playdates, enrolled her in gymnastics and dance, and encouraged her to
spend time with her friends in order to boost her confidence in interacting with others.

15 YEARS
Do you see any examples of how cognitive and physical changes in early adolescence (ages 12-
14) relate to your teen's social or emotional behavior?

I have noticed numerous changes in Amelia since her early adolescent development
began. Cognitively, she is highly skilled in math and science, shows effective time management
skills, and works well independently on her schoolwork. I have tried to help cultivate her interest
in science by taking her on nature hikes and getting her a microscope.
Overall, Amelia’s cognitive and physical changes have allowed her to develop at a
regular pace that is consistent with her peers. She spends time with friends and has many hobbies
that she is interested in. Her mix of personal and social interests has helped her to develop skills
that translate well into her academic life, such as her interest in science. Socially, she has been
invited to parties and has taken an interest in boys. She has become more argumentative as she
ages, but since this is developmentally normal, we give her space and let her talk to us when she
is ready. We are pleased with her social and cognitive developments and believe that she is on
her way to becoming a successful young adult.

16 YEARS 11 MONTHS
How has your teen adjusted at 14-16 years of age to typical adolescent issues such as risk-taking,
drugs, alcohol, and sexual interests, and how have you responded to your teen?

At 14, Amelia was invited to a party where both girls and boys were present. I
encouraged her to have fun, to be herself, and emphasized how I trusted her to make good
choices. She did not engage in many “risky” behaviors, especially when it came to drugs or
alcohol. She was a cautious child and was described by her driving instructor as a very
conscientious driver. At 16, she claimed to be “in love” with her boyfriend of two months, to
which I responded by telling her to wait for sex until she is older and sure of the relationship.
However, just in case, I educated her on birth control and safe sex. Though she eventually ran off
with him and got matching tattoos, I figured this was a good life lesson in learning to accept the
consequences of her choices. Altogether, Amelia has not had any issues with drugs, alcohol, or
sex, which I believe is likely due to my warm and open parenting style.
Sophie Young
VC #13-16

18 YEARS 1 MONTH
Describe some specific ways in which your child developed that appeared to be influenced by
factors outside your control, such as genes, random environmental events or the general
influence of contemporary middle-class American culture.

A genetic factor that influenced Amelia’s development is her struggle with dyslexia. This
diagnosis explained why she had difficulty with reading and writing and allowed her to get the
special attention she needed. Additionally, this may explain why she developed a liking of math
and science rather than language.
Environmental changes that impacted her development include us moving to a nicer
location when she began kindergarten. This provided her access to exceptional education from a
young age and gave her the opportunity to catch up on her reading deficiencies. She may have
fallen much more behind if she had a less enriching educational environment.
Similarly, her existence in a privileged, middle-class, American household granted her
with numerous opportunities and experiences. We were able to encourage Amelia’s participation
in hobbies and school subjects and also enrolled her in a STEM school that provided extra
attention to her areas of interest. As a result, Amelia did remarkably well in school and will be
attending college for math and science. Though I’d like to believe that her success is completely
due to my choices, her cooperative temperament, interests, socio-economic status, ethnicity, and
attitude towards school all play large roles in her life outcomes.