Moms Talk: Would You Let Your Teen Roll A House?

Each week your Alpharetta-Milton Moms Council looks at questions from moms in the area. We then give our opinions on the topic and turn it over to you to give your opinions as well. We hope you will join us in this weeks discussion by adding yoiur inout to the comments section at the bottom of the page. If you would like to submit a question, please email the author.

As the seniors in high school are getting ready to graduate, there seems to be a lot of kids out rolling houses in toilet paper at night. Parents are letting these kids stay out or go out very late at night to avoid getting caught while they cover the yards of friends and teammates with the paper. Some argue that this is in good fun while others seem to be getting rather angry at it.

Q: What is your opinion on it? Would you allow your teen to go out in the middle of the night to 'roll a house"?

A: The timing of this question couldn't be better after a conversation I had with another mom in Milton last week.  I have never lived in a place where kids T-Ped houses and I have to say that every year this high school tradition hits, I laugh as I drive thru town and think how lucky these kids are to have such fun.  I never had the opportunity. This is small town stuff. The kind of thing that makes me remember the time of year like when the dogwoods bloom.

My conversation last week with the other mom had to do with the police intervening in a few cases and what happened to the kids. As far as I know, no one was arrested but the kids need to be careful. As long as it is just TP and not graffiti, I think they're lucky to participate in a tradition that started generations ago. Look, it is not as if it is random, the targeted homes are those of high school juniors and seniors. Those kids graduate and that is the end of that.

The fact is my children probably won't be able to TP a home when they reach high school because communities change, we have local police patrol now, and at risk are a few rowdy kids ruining it for the rest. I guess I'd rather have parents discuss the "all in good fun" part of it, and the consequences of taking it beyond what is traditional TPing. Besides, it always rains right after that and it all falls down. Just ask my neighbor on Freemanville Road. Two years in a row now. They have lots of big dogs. It was Amazing!!  (Sorry Marci:)

-Patti Silva, mom of 3

A: I have fond memories of my paper rolling days! It is a right of passage for seniors and if that is something that my child wanted to do, it would be fine with me. There are a couple of caveats, however –no alcohol, nothing destructive, and not the whole night. And finally, she will be accountable if she gets caught by the authorities.

I may sound extreme this week, but in the scheme of big deals, this is just not one.

-Ronna Ruppelt, mom of 1

A: I HOPE parents aren't letting their kids out to "Roll a House"! I will say that teens have a way of misleading their parents....I would not doubt some of these parents think their kids are over classmates studying for finals. And others may not even know their kids snuck out in the night. As kids become teens, they truly do start to make their own decisions and parents cannot always know to intervene, even if ultimately we are responsible. Our job is to know our kids and be proactive to avoid problems. I bet we can all recall things we did our parents never knew about.  It doesn't mean we turn out to be hoodlums.....It is toilet paper and not spray paint. One shows a teen mentality for fun, the other shows complete lack of respect.

As to whether or not it interferes with their finals and school... well.... the kids that truly care about their grades wouldn't be out if they need to study, and the ones that don't would have found some other distraction anyway.

-Audrey Greenwood, mom of 3

A: I am that mom who not only would let my teens go roll a house, but I would probably supply the toilet paper and drive the get away car too. I think its funny. I have great memories of going out with a group of friends and decorating houses like this. We loved it and we were never destructive. It is all in good fun. 

Recently, I have seen houses get "flocked." This is where the house gets a flock of pink flamingos planted in their yard and they will remain until a ransom is paid for the flamingos to be removed and placed in a new yard. It is similar to rolling a house but also helps kids raise money for their church group, school group or other cause. I like this too! I think it is hilarious and creative.

-Tammy Bester, mom of 3