Calling All Parents!

I try to limit the amount of controversial content I blog about but I’m at my wits end with something and I feel the need to rant. What you’re about to read may not be politically correct and I may offend some people. You’ve been warned. Proceed with caution.

I was having a conversation with a friend about how children are no longer being disciplined or taught to respect others. This conversation was spurred from the fact that one of Remie’s kindergarten classmates has already been suspended from school. Seriously? What 5 year old has such a lack of respect for authority that he is suspended in the 2^ND WEEK OF SCHOOL??? Then it hit me- this is the type of children that our society is raising nowadays. It is sickening to me! Parents are no longer parenting but trying to be their child’s friend. Let’s get something straight, my children refer to me as “Mom” for a reason. I am not  “Vicki” or “Best Friend” to my children. I am “Mom” because I hold a place of authority in my household. Yes, I said it AUTHORITY! It’s really not that scary of a word after all. My household is very loving but it’s absolutely not a democracy.  My children understand at a very young age that there are consequences for their actions. The consequences vary depending on the offense but there is ALWAYS a consequence. I think that’s where a lot of parents are getting it wrong.  There are a lot of parenting classes out there that teach different ways to approach child rearing. They are not all bad. But let’s get back to the basics people.  Remember when we were kids when just the threat of the principal calling home made you load your drawers?? Remember how scared you were of the possibility of your dad finding out about a stupid thing you did? What happened to our society that parents no longer feel the need to discipline their children?? COME ON PARENTS! STEP UP AND BE A PARENT TO YOUR CHILD- THEY ARE BEGGING YOU TO FOR DIRECTION! I really don’t care if you choose to spank, use time out, take away toys etc but please please please start teaching your children that they need to respect authority and that when they screw up, there will be a consequence. And make sure when you threaten them with a consequence you follow through. Kids are smart, they know your threats of taking away their tv time is a joke unless you repeatedly show them that you are not a joke.

So, my rant hasn’t convinced you yet to take responsibility for raising your children? Those of you that know my family know that my husband is a police officer.  He comes home day after day with stories about wuss parents that are too scared to discipline their children that they call the police to fix the situation. Can you say ridiculous? Just a few weeks ago, my hubby was called to a house for a family trouble.  The teenage daughter went out with some friends that she wasn’t allowed to be with. When she returned home her parents were upset and tried to punish her for her actions. She went in her room and screamed and screamed and screamed until she thought they would give in (obviously that has worked in the past). Instead the parents called the police so they would get their daughter under control. After surveying the situation, the hubs instructed the parents that he could not fix in 15 minutes what has taken them 15 years to screw up. If you don’t start being a parent when your child is small what gives you an ounce of a chance of disciplining them when they are teenagers? It’ll only get worse.

I do not post this is arrogance. Parenting is the hardest yet most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.  I am not a perfect mother and my children are far from perfect. We parents need to join together and make a promise that we will raise our children with dignity and respect so that they will grow into someone who can one day contribute to society and make a difference.

 “He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”  Proverbs 13:24