jackofallgeeks | (no subject)

So, I hate making sweeping generalizations (despite doing it constantly). But I think parents here in America are really, really failing, as a general rule. I read not but a few months ago about parents calling the cops on their kids because said kids wouldn't listen when said parents told them to go to bed. Necessarily, the cops can't do anything other than take the kids into custody, 'cause that's what cops do. But why would it ever even occur to someone to call the cops on their kids because they're misbehaving?

Unfortunately, I think I know the answer to that question, and I think it's because parents these days either (1)don't want to take responsibility, (2)are too used to a nanny-state to know anything other than calling Big Brother, or (3) both.

Anyways, this morning at work I stumbled upon THIS little gem. In short: woman has four sons. Sons get 'out of control.' Woman 'goes on strike', leaves the boys at her place and moves in with her boyfriend. Reporter goes to talk to the kids and practically gets assaulted. Woman is charged with negligence (rightfully). Presumably, sons are in custody.

I can't even begin to comment on all the things that are wrong with that story, but once again it's indicative of what I feel is one of the major problems with our society as it stands now.

Threaded | Flat

Boot to the head. Seriously. Moms don't get to go on strike. Neither do dads.

People ought to think about that before they have kids. It's totally in the terms & conditions.

You get to see a lot of this kind of thing up close and personal in my line of work. Mom's who GIVE AWAY their babies when they are born because they didn't REALLY want to be Mommies, they just thought they'd get a meal ticket out of the deal. Kids who come into my class crying because they can't get the extra two points they need to pass a class because Mom is on crack and can't sign a report. (That kid hasn't even SEEN his Mom in the last several days!) Kids who don't know if the man who is beating them is really their Dad or not. I have a case at work right now where a kid got arrested for hurting his Mom. When the police began asking about the bruises and finger marks on the kid's neck, it turns out that kid hurt Mom because she was choking him because he didn't do his chores. That Mom is refusing to allow CM to help her kid, because if he doesn't pass, he will go to juvie hall. She said "Once he's in jail, he's not MY responsibility, and I won't have to think about him anymore."

It can get depressing.

But then you see those very same kids doing their best to be better than their upbringing.

Today I had one kid come to me and apologize for the way he treated me at the beginning of the year. He said "I realized that all you are doing is trying to help me, I should have been showing respect. I've changed, and you won't get attitude from me again." I don't even remember the incident he's talking about, because lack of respect and "attitude" is so common. He's been working hard and doing well.

Oops, rambling there ... sorry.