Picture This!

Read this and when you're done, come back and let's talk!

http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/parents-punish-teen-posting-goofy-photos-her-facebook-182700019.html

I'm sure it will come to NO surprise to any of y'all that I am cheering for these parents!  Good job!  High five!  Woohoo!  Yeah, baby!!!  If you are surprised, you must be new around here!  Welcome and let me encourage you to dig into the YB archives so you won't be caught off guard in the future.  I'm thankful for parents like these...thankful to hear about them...makes me feel not so alone.  In a world where "anything goes" has become the mantra for every facet of life, stories about parents refusing to back down just warms the cockles of my heart!

(I do have an issue with what appears to be Little Brother throwing Big Sister under the bus, by posting one of the photos and the explanation of the infraction on a social news avenue that is similar to Tw*tter.  And if this had happened at YOHOS, Little Brother would be invited to join me and Big Daddy in a "Come to Jesus" meeting!  Dude, really?  That table can be easily turned!)

Did you catch that line about how some feel this is an invasion of the daughter's privacy?  Can you picture me rolling my eyes?  Get a grip!!  They are being the PARENTS!  SHE is the CHILD!  It is up to them to do whatever they reasonably can to turn her into a responsible, respectful, decent member of society.  Maybe this will be the lesson that hits home.  Maybe this will be the thing she remembers when she starts to back-sass her supervisor and it saves her job.  Maybe this will be the thing that she remembers when she starts to get snarky with the guy who she rear-ended  in traffic and it saves her life!   Her understanding where the line is...what the consequences are for crossing that line...being able to determine if the risk is worth the punishment...waaaaaaaay more important than her privacy.

Of course, the ones hollering about "invading her privacy" are probably the Friend-rents.  Perhaps it bears repeating; I believe that one of the worst things a parent can do is to try and be his/her child's BFF.  Let me explain...yes, treat your child cordially and lovingly.  Foster an environment of open communication with your child.  Make him/her feel confident that he/she can come and have honest, heartfelt conversations with you.  Create a strong bond of trust and honesty.  Have fun with your child.  At the same time, you have to determine where the line is...you can't be afraid of saying "no", you can't be afraid of enforcing the rules (and you better do it consistently or you're wasting your time and hair color), you can't be afraid of them being angry with you.  They will be and that's ok....most of the time they get over it.  If they don't get over it, it's their choice and their money in the therapist's pocket.  They are looking to you for leadership and guidance and boundaries.  You HAVE to be the grown up.  I'm sorry...that's just the way it is. 

To this particular set of parents I send a great big "SALUTE!"  Much love from WayDownSouth.  Thanks for paddling in this parenting canoe with the rest of us.  Nice to know we're really not alone! 

Comments

  1. That photo is hilarious...and quite a light punishment for her sassing them. Yeah for the parents!!!!

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  2. "...wasting your time and hair color..." Lol, Love it!!~ :D And you're soo right, as always: *consistency is key.~~~ *Hope you have a great week, YankeeBelle!~ :)

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