When are the parents going to start being parents and be more involved with their childrens lives. In the story, "Lonely Sophomore Kills Best Friend, Blames Crime on Cult", (http://abcnews.go.com./primetime) a Colorado sophomore student kills his best friend and his best friends grandparents. Reason for the crime; the sophomore student was "brainwashed", in a cult setting, to do anothers bidding.
Now we have all read similar stories about this very topic. Even as far back as the tragedy of the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado. Both of these stories have one very close characteristic. Both tragedies involved teenage kids that felt they belong.
I know that all kids are different. Especially teenage kids. I also realize that all kids want that feeling of belonging. My question is to the parents of the offenders, where were you? Now what I mean from that question is, if you are a parent that is active in your child's life, then why didn't you take a more active role in your child's life? Another question, if you felt like your child was a loner, then why didn't you take a more active approach to get your child involved in some sort of activity that would have provided your child with a sense of belonging?
As a parent myself I take a very active role in my child's life. Now do I believe that he does things behind my back that I'm not aware of, of course I do I'm not naive. However since he was very young I had him involved in various sports, he was even a cub scout, and he is involved in clubs at school. Bottom line is my child created friends by participating in these various activities. He was able to create his own sense of belonging and acceptance.
Now I'm not saying these tragedies in Colorado are not the fault of the parents. However if the parents were more involved with their children, could have theses tragedies have been prevented?
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Yeah. Go read this: http://joannejacobs.com/2009/08/25/teacher-tackles-boy-in-bomb-vest/
ReplyDeleteI think it was Bill Engval who said it was the parents' fault that school shootings/bombings were happening, because there's no way a semi-involved parent could miss the kid having a gun or building a bomb--and that his dad knew it when they farted in the back yard. I could be wrong about which comedian said it, but I think the gist is completely correct.
I totally agree with your point of view on this situation. I have three kids myself and I know everything my children are doing. My son is currently in flag football now and we try to involve them in sports as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI agree that if the parents had paid any attention to their children at all they would have realized their childrens actions, whether they were depressed, or building bombs in the back yard. Parents should know what their children are doing at all times and it would prevent a lot of the tradegies that may happen in the future.
I can remember all of the things that I did and got away with because my parents didn't know how to parent, nor were they around. My brothers were single handedly responsible for a HUGE crime wave in our little home town, because they were bored and un-supervised. One of the many reasons I chose to home school my three teens. I am not blind enough to think that they won't do bad things, but like everyone else on here so far, I would like to think that I would notice bomb parts lying around.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I agree with all of you. I am the oldest of 3 girls and when my parents divorced, my dad was concerned with women and alcohol, so I did alot of stuff that I knew I wasn't suppose to becuase I knew that my dad didn't care enough to know where I was going, who I was with, and when would I be back. I got preganant at 14, and I don't blame my dad but if he would've been more involved I don't think that I would've had chance to do everything that I did.
ReplyDeleteI have 2 kids now, 8 year old girl and 9 year old boy, and I am terrified of them doing the same things I did. Although, even though they are still young, I always make them tell me where there and who they will be with. Plus, if they can't hear me from our front porch then I can't hear them scream for help, so they know there boundries and know the punishment if they cross them.
I want for my kids to have the realationship with that I didn't have with my parents.
I agree, as a parent of a student of what happened to Memorial Middle School in 2006, it was nothing I never want to experience again. Where are the parents when it comes to common discipline and comfort or praise and acknowledgement? We don't step up in this generation and say I'll help when help is definitely needed. My kids are great kids, but they have their faults as well. Just to listen and pay attention anymore why the destruction and mayhem in life to get one's attention is not fair to the child. I totally agree to the fullest extent.
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