As a parent, you try your very best to equip your children with good manners, morals and a positive attitude. However, sometimes outside influences can get the better of your child and right before your eyes they turn into someone you don’t even recognize. It’s unfair to blame all of a child’s behaviors on the parent, as sometimes it’s out of their control. However, it is important as their parent to enforce suitable rules and punishments to let your child know their behavior isn’t acceptable. One dad who did exactly that took to Facebook to explain just how difficult it can be.
George Robinson is a single father of three girls, with his eldest, Sally, generally causing him little trouble over the years. Recently though he received a phone call from one of the parents of a girl in her class. What this mother told him, shocked him to the core.
When George learned that his daughter could have been responsible for another child wanting to take her own life, he was in complete shock. He knew that he had to take action to make his daughter aware of the consequences of her actions.
Sally is at the beach today and should be home in a few hours. I am so mad, I don’t know what to do. I have always taught her to be kind and respectful to others, and I feel like I don’t even know her. From what I have heard, Sally was the ring leader in all of this. That was a few days ago now. So Sally was scheduled to get home at 8:30 this evening. I get a call at 8:15 from her. She said she was going to stay at a friend’s house overnight. I said “No, I need you to come home right now.”
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She said “I’m already here! Bye!” And hung up. I decided to go get her instead of arguing over the phone. I went to the friend’s house, it was empty. I started calling the the parents of her friends and finally someone’s brother picked up and said they were at the park. Sure enough, I go to the park and there are about 30 kids there around a fire pit. I see her with a solo cup standing next to a beer keg.
George explains that he doesn’t usually resort to getting angry, but he really felt that enough was enough.
George started to question his own parenting, was this his fault? How had his little girl turned into such a monster?!
She posted the apology and then I made it clear that she was not to do anything for the rest of the summer. All plans are canceled until further notice. She can use the land line phone if she needs to, but only when I am there.
Other consequences I am enforcing:
Community service – still researching that, and looking for advice about it.
When the girl gets out of the hospital, Sally is going to apologize to her and her family.
I have taken the door of her room off its hinges. No privacy for a while.
No matter how much Sally complains though, George is insistent on keeping up the terms of her punishment.
I told her to take the night and think things over. If she wants to fight me on everything tomorrow morning, then so be it. If she takes her punishment and agrees to these terms, then I will consider how long the duration should be.
Hopefully, George’s story will be a reminder to many people that something which may seem like a harmless joke, can ruin someone’s life. Suicide as a result of bullying is one of the largest causes of death in the US.
Make sure to SHARE this post if you are against bullying and agree with George’s parenting!
