Our kids are are over 21 but not 27 yet.
Still 
My wife and I both have our own stories to frighten our children with and we've been honest. So far I don't think our kids have experienced worse. At least I hope not. If they have they'll have stories for their own kids.
Me and my siblings were wild things and it's lucky we all survived. Two of my siblings left home at 16. I was more conservative. I just quit high school and slept on the porch. Later I was living in my car in a church parking lot but my parents didn't hear that story until I was in my forties.
The "no questions asked, no judgment" rule is a good one. Listen my lovely child, don't drive if you are impaired, we'll pay for a taxi or we'll pick you up. And if you get into any other kind of serious trouble we'll move the world to get you out of it. (But sorry, you are on your own for speeding tickets, parking tickets, and other ordinary dumb-ass young person behavior...)
It's really difficult as a parent to know how much trust you can safely extend to your kid, and not every kid is the same. I have some stories about that too but my kids know I'm "hunter" on DU.
Even when you are the perfect parent there will be many nights you cannot sleep until your kids are safely home and tucked into bed.
Edit history
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
= new reply since forum marked as read