Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you'd like.
I love reading a blog called Ooph where Stephanie Mullen discusses life with teenage sons and how she handles different things that happens in their family and their lives. She recently wrote a post that dealt with texting and driving and how she and her husband chose to deal with this. You can read that post here.
I can fully understand being very afraid of this type of behavior. What I don't understand is how they chose to deal with it. I don't have a problem with her finding an app to deal with this issue, I really think she dropped the ball in not making this boy suffer a bit for how he chose to ignore his mother's rules when it came to texting and driving. I would have taken that phone AND his car privileges! I am thinking that maybe that is what is wrong with this current generation. They never have to suffer any consequences. What do you think? What would you have done if this had been your child?
Back in the day of hard wired phones it wasn't to unusal for me to put the phone in the trash compactor and pull the trigger. Cell phones, tablet and car keys compact just as well. Car titles can be signed over to salvage yards and ask them to compact the car. set this in the front yard for all their friends to see. You can't get their attention with an app, a cell phone or an iPod and idle threats
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that parents feel the need to give these kids everything they want
DeleteI would have taken the keys and the phone. It may be a temporary fix, but it gets their attention. During the time that they are carless and phone less, they can think about how its just an inconvenience that they don't have a car or phone, but some kids are paralyzed or even dead because of their choices. I only have 3 short years until my baby drives. I want to make sure she is as safe as possible because it's already scary driving these days anyway.
ReplyDeleteI agree Cristy! I think she missed the boat on this one!
DeleteI'm always surprised at parents who won't discipline their kids. Like it never occurred to them to take the car or phone away.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet you see a lot of that don't you?
DeleteThe only thing scarier than a 15 y/o girl is a 19 y/o boy.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but I survived.
True!
DeleteOh my. This touched a nerve for me.
ReplyDeleteNo it is not OK for kids to disobey the rules of parents - especially ones related to safety like texting and driving. And I agree with you. That phone and the driving privilege would have been taken away on the first infraction for a week. The second infraction would have been for 2 weeks. If it still occurred, the phone service would be permanently adjusted to "no texting service" until they were over 18 and were paying for it themselves, and the driving privilege reduced again, maybe a month this time AND, I wouldn't be driving them to events either. They would have to scrounge a ride from someone else or not go. Need transportation for a part time job?? - oh, too bad. Should have thought of that after the first infraction. No job, no money. Too bad.
I find it totally remarkable that parents give up their control - even as early as ages two and three with their children. By the time those kids are teens, the job of raising them into responsible independent adults is sooo much harder.
I guess I sound pretty hard nosed! But my kids turned out fine and although I believe there is a little luck in raising kids properly, it is mostly hard work and consistency - and love.
I am pretty hard nosed too Elaine. But even being a hard nosed mom I didn't get both of them to turn out the same. Sometimes they just make bad decisions. But you have to let them live with the consequences and so many parents aren't able to allow any consequences in this day and age.
DeleteWell, I am no parent but even at 25 I still have my Momma in the back of my head. Even now I am still afraid to do somethings and how it would look. With that said, I guess my Momma is just old school. She would have tanned my hide for disobeying her. Then she would have put me on some form of punishment that involved taking away the things I got in trouble with.
ReplyDeleteYour momma only wants what is best for you!
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