does my parent/gurgians have the right to make me?

[liyah]

I'm 17 and earn my own money, and I buy my own things, therefore most of what I own is mine, (iPod, camera, clothes, shoes, purses, makeup etc.)

Long Story Short: I live with my mom, but we live with our grandma, temperarilly just untill we get back onto our feet. I reciently got into an argument with my mother, which soon led to a punishment/ grounding. Therefore, I began to keep distant from family members and talk only when necissary (to keep me from getting in any more trouble) This led my family to believe I was being rude and disrepectful so I soon wrote a letter expressing my feelings (in a polite formal mannor) and they took that the wrong way. I explained the character trait "introvert" and how i choose to only talk when nessicarry because i feel its irrelevant to tell "higher authority" often times when I do express my feelings and or thoughts to higher authority, because they exclude the meaning of my beliefs, or opinions,and it reflects in a negative way and i feel I am wasting my breath conversation to higher authority, because they automatically form their own assumptions and/or opinions leaving me no room to explain my situation. So why bother? And as "higher authority" i am reffering to my mother. Because of this, my mother saw this as being rude to the family and wanted me to interact more, so she took my ipod (which is my life/computer) away, and told me i would get it back within the next 2 weeks. I found a way to work around the punishment, and decided to watch t.v. instead (which i never do), (she never mentioned not watching tv) when my mother saw me avoid her previous punishment, she decided to prohibbit me from watching T.V. That being said, i found a way to entertain myself by (fixing my broken laptop) and getting on the internet and satisfying my needs (facebook, twitter youtube etc.) She saw a form of bliss and decided to put restrictions on my internet usage (only because i have to use my laptop for school) and decided i can only use it if its out in the open, on the kitchen counter (where everyone gathers,) (but i want to be left alone, and excluded) do you see the pattern? everytime she sees me content with her punishment, she decides to put restictions on me even more. but she never did mention how i couldnt do the previous thing (she just assumed that i wouldnt/couldnt) but i never really took this spesific laptop punishment into consideration. I then decide to hang out at my friends house for an extended amount of time, (since i have nothing to do at home) and she decides to put a restraign on that as well!! Im soon going to go CRAZY!

\Now here comes my grandma (gma for short) seeing as though my mom wasnt so tough on the "laptop in kitchen" rule I didnt bother following it, so now my gma comes in and asks if i am supposed to use it. I tell her i can, because its school oreanted (and it was). then she goes and tattle tells to my mom that i wasnt following the rules which makes my mom enforce them even more. now everytime my grandmother sees a sort of entertainment, she asks if im aloud to have it then consults with my mom about it! HOW IRRITATING! is it acceptable that my parents/guardian take away the things I purchased myself. Like, do they have a right as a parent to take an item(s) away if I PAYED FOR IT MYSELF and tell me when or where to use them? I mean if im following the rules and find another sorce of entertainment are they alloud to change the rules? I DIDNT DO ANYTHING WRONG! I know I shouldn't be stuck in materialistic things, I was just wondering f it is alloud. And if not, do I have a good argument? I know i live under there house so its there rules, but dont i have rights myself?? Thanks!!
If yes, please explain why. Feedback?

[C]

Until you live in your own house - you have to follow the rules set by the person you live with. One day, you'll have your own place and you can do whatever in the hell you want to. I found that it was easier to cope with the so called "higher authorities" when I politely interacted with them at all times. I didn't always feel like being polite - but they left me alone.

[Sosumi]

"most of what I own is mine"


Wrong. Any money you earn or possessions you buy are your parents' till you turn 18. From a legal standpoint you own nothing. They can take away whatever they please for any reason.

[?]

Ask her WHY she feels the need to express her authority in every little thing that you do. Let her know you respect her but what she is doing isn't helping the situation out at all. Try to avoid a useless argument but you still gotta be more straight forward with your feelings. Be as specific as possible and use plenty of examples.

Whether or not she can take things away from you I don't know but it's not worth insulting their "parenting" technique. Just try and bring it into the light and maybe they will go easier on ya.

[Lone Alaskan Gypsy]

Unfortunately, your guardian has legal authority over you. In which your mother can do, say, and take away anything she wants (within of course the restrictions of ethics). She has the right to restrict you from friends, from technology, from any form of entertainment what-so-ever. With that being said your mother could not lock you in your room for an extended period of time without food, water, or the ability to use the bathroom, that would be child abuse. Your mother could not restrict you from using technology for education purposes (if you are still in high school). This too is a form of abuse. BUT you would have to prove that your school work was disrupted and in some form made worse by your mother's actions. And of course your mother could not use extremely vulgar language towards you on a regular basis. That could be both assault and child abuse.

[Dark Betty]

Well, I take it that your mom is angry at this state and she feels that she wishes to punish you properly by showing you life isn't fair or isn't always fun and game. However, if you paid for all of this and everything and you're going to be 18 years old soon less than a year, I assume, she wouldn't have that much right.

It sounds to me you have a job, but I could be wrong. If not, then search for one and apply in person.

Your mom is probably seeking out her anger on you and you need to sit down and talk to her. Set it straight that you only have an interests to talk like an adult. When I tried to talk to my dad and he's upset, I would remind him to stop yelling at me and take me seriously. I was 18 years old and still going to school at the time.

I telling the adult you want to be taken serious and how mature you take your actions and words toward them. Explain it as simple it can be. Not extended vocabulary or in written words. You should take part of the blame and apologize. You should also explain how you felt and how undeserving it was to you.

So, if you want her to stop taking things away or creating boredom. Start doing chores - or more - around the house and if she tried to consider it as a punishment to take away something like that, then, you may want to discuss this issue with your guidance counselor to work it out. Your mom shouldn't over do it everything and assume you are getting some entertainment. Heck, she's taking away to what you are used to doing.

So, until you are 18 years old, she has every right to take your things away. Even if you paid for them.