This is a rather . . . unorthodox method

[pegkerr]

Parents strike to protest messy kids.

I have to think that it would have been easier for them if they had pushed the issue more when the kids were younger.

Comments

[nmalfoy.livejournal.com]

Why are most parents so afraid to punish their children, esp. when the kids are young? Then they seem so shocked when their kids grow up to be brats.

[amandageist.livejournal.com]

Because you get the people coming up to you in the parking lot, as you're trying to contain your tantruming, screaming, writhing, struggling child, who inform you that they're considering calling the police because you're abusing your child.

This happened to my husband. Our daughter was four, he had removed her from church for being disruptive, she was having a tantrum in response, he was trying to carry her to the car, and she flung herself backward will all her might. He just barely caught her before her head hit the pavement. A woman approached and told him she'd seen him throwing our daughter down and was going to report him. To his credit, he thanked her for her concern and invited her to do so. She didn't. But if she had, I doubt not that we'd be under review by child protective services even as we speak.

~A

[nmalfoy.livejournal.com]

What does a parent do, then? I have seen well-behaved kids out there, but I don't know how their parents accomplished the feat.

Interesting what you said about child protective services: We've got a real problem with it in Texas. They are desperately short of caseworkers. The woman who cut her daughter's arms off? Had been investigated by CPS for neglect. Obviously they found nothing wrong. Then there were two cases just a few months ago, with children being beaten to death. One parent had been investigated by CPS five times prior to the child's death; the other six times. What's sad about Texas is that calling CPS is an empty threat.

As to the woman in the parking lot? Sounds like she's never been a parent.

[amandageist.livejournal.com]

Interesting what you said about child protective services: We've got a real problem with it in Texas. ... What's sad about Texas is that calling CPS is an empty threat.

We live just south of San Antonio. I didn't consider it an empty threat; despite the sad situation of CPS here, my husband has co-workers whose children call and report abuse in retaliation against their parents' attempts to control them.

There is no system that will catch everything, alas. And it always seems that when the searchlights of any government entity turn in my direction, I never manage to be one of the ones that fall through the cracks.

~Amanda "one of the lucky 45,000 people nationwide selected for a random IRS audit in 2003" Geist

[amandageist.livejournal.com]

What does a parent do, then?

I usually tell them I'll sell them on eBay.

~A