Someone sent me one of those emails full of interesting photos. As I viewed these, it dawned on me that I could use them to teach some valuable lessons about parenting.
Feel free to comment with your experience and observations too. It’s time we got serious about parenting in this country:
For parents who like to pretend that no one else can hear their little angel throwing a tantrum in public, the new and improved “sound dampening plastic bag” can show you are concerned about not disrupting those around you, and as you can see, also doubles as a both an umbrella and rain gear on those watery motorcycle trips with your preschooler. The lawyers still suggest you put the “danger: child hazard” warning labels on the open toed sandals but if the child sits IN FRONT on the motorcycle, they are not necessary.
Obviously, for any SANE parent who gives even the slightest care about their children, this is an OUTRAGE! First, given the child’s age a two-handed grip technique is a must. Second, the kid is wearing flip-flops. How irresponsible. That is a semi-automatic weapon and a hot shell might eject onto her foot and burn it. Idiot father. Also, a semi-automatic magazine loaded handgun is a horrible choice for her development. She needs a six shooter where she can make the round bullets fit in the round holes not only teaching her proper gun loading but giving her more education than a week at her public school.
Never under equip your children and put them in danger. Loose single beer bottles not only get warm quicker, they can fall out of the playskool basket and break. I’ll have to give the parent the benefit on this one though because its very obvious the kid is going to be sent straight out into the frigid winter cold to keep the beer from getting skunky.
Many people would have a big problem with this. However this is socially correct on many levels. First, they are carpooling, saving on pressure energy and carbon emissions. Next, they are NOT driving some big gas-hogging poverty-creating SUV bought on credit just to keep up social appearances. Also, the parents are clearly putting the child first in priority: they aren’t wearing helmets so that if they all crash, they will die too and not just the child. However, I do freely admit they are giving the finger to our laws by not having blinkers or brake lights on the stroller.
Parents should encourage children to play outdoors and learn about wildlife. Too many kids don’t know anything about animals except what they see on TV programs. Giving them a first hand opportunity to interact with God’s creatures instills in them an appreciation of all those marvelous critters. It will also give them critical life experience with painful rodent bites, lacerations from claws and most importantly, excruciating rabies shots right in their pudgy little donut-softened tummies.
Every good parent knows that learning comes faster and sticks longer with real life object lessons. What thickness of ice will support two children? How many minutes can a 6 year old survive in frigid water? How many cycles of CPR are recommended before pronouncing a child dead? In one short field trip your kids learn valuable facts about math, medicine, physics and survival.
What parent doesn’t want their child to get ahead with their career choice or on the job training? Don’t be jealous when this kid already has a badge and is directing traffic while your little junior is still partying your money down the drain in college. Tough love, no pain no gain.
While most people would see this as dangerous, this father is to be commended on avoiding the hellishly evil practice of spanking. Instead of “hitting” his children and teaching them violence, he is going to lovingly apply a jolt of 10,000,000 volts to their hind ends. That sounds awful but very little of the shock penetrates through Huggies, Osh Kosh and the typical fatty layer produced by soda filled baby bottles and 27 holidays a year that requires loads of candy. More parents should quit “hitting” their children (under the innocuous sounding label of “spanking”)… as if loving, controlled and appropriately uncomfortable consequences applied to their ample tushes would actually make them behave better anyway. I mean, come on… how barbaric. Less spanking, more electrocution!
While the rest of you wonder how to get your lazy 20 year old off the couch, so they’ll finally get a license and job, this family has a major headstart on you. This kid will probably own his own business by 10, and assuming he’s not a Nascar prodigy, he’ll no doubt be bungee jumping and running for Congress by the time your ne’er-do-well moves into his girlfriends apartment. Look at the little warrior…. he’s TAUNTING the driver behind him, daring him to catch up!
I already mentioned all those parents who ignore their temper tantrum throwing brat and expect everyone else to pretend its not happening too. You should allow little Suzy to vent her feelings and express herself. After all, no matter HOW AWFUL the kid is acting, its only because “she’s tired”. Don’t tell that to THESE old styled parents. “Shut up kid or I’ll shut you up”. No “I’ll count to 10…” or “if I tell you one more time” idle threats. Quit your whining kids or…. The only objection I have is it might hurt the lads self esteem which is of course the HIGHEST priority of parenting today. I mean, how good can a kid feel about themselves with a flat face?
Parents are so selfish today. “I’m my kids mom…” Really? Then why can’t your kid waste money they don’t have on those slot machines (taxes for the stupid) they can’t afford and then go collect government welfare just like Mom? Families that are financially irresponsible together, stay together. And collect food stamps together. And raise future moocher generations together.
I think all people should get to choose which little bundle of joy they take home. This is real pro-choice. What I appreciate about this photo, is the frugality of setting up an infant flea market in the back a truck and taking to the streets. As far as I’m concerned this should be a constitutional right. The free market will meet any demand if politicians will just get out of the way. Notice how carefully the babies have been grouped by how they look so that if you get the wrong one it won’t be that traumatic. Very conscientious…
“crack is whack!!!”
’nuff said.
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 Digital Photography |
 Bible Q&A Vol. One |
 Internet Pornography |
 Knowing The Will of God |
 Life Without Debt |
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Brent, I am literally feeling light headed all of a sudden from watching these photos with my mouth wide open and my heart beating much, much, too rapidly! Can’t be true. Just can’t. “Oh, Lord, please say it isn’t true! That my eyes deceive me.”
What’s scary is that these are photographs…real events, real people and real kids. The thoughtlessness demonstrated here is appalling.
That’s why I had to be humorous… the alternative was too maddening….
I have always enjoyed following your blog and getting to know your family and praying for you all when I felt you ever needed it. I say that, because I want you to know that I’m not a horrible person that just goes around leaving nasty comments for people. However this post bothered me. I just get a vibe of hatred for fellow human beings from this post. Don’t get me wrong, the photos are appaling. But the way you elaborate on them and are so sarcastic about it just doesn’t fit with my picture of Christianity. In my opinion I would look at these pictures and see people who should, but do not, know better. But you’re using these pictures to say a whole lot more, and these people probably wouldn’t even understand what you’re talking about. It’s sad. But the children in these photos shouldn’t just be written off. That’s how this post came across to me. As a Christian you are not supposed to be all high and mighty, you are supposed to share your knowledge with others in an encouraging way. You are a good person, you should share the nice qualities that you have as an example to these people on how they should live. Just my opinion of course. (And just incase anyone gets the wrong idea I will clearly say… NO! I do not agree with the parenting styles seen in these photos! Again, it’s apalling!)
Brett,
This topic is so controversial. I was raised by being paddled. There were times it was justified, but also times when I felt humiliated, unloved, punished for things I didn’t understand to be so wrong. Would I be the person I am today had my parents used a different approach? That is a question I often ask myself. Consequentially, I also raised my daughters the same way. As a parent, I have always been short on patience and quick to anger. Many times, when I disciplined my girls, I have wished I had done it differently. I parented in the way that I was parented. My parents were Christians. It pains me yet at age 65 to remember my childhood mistakes, my teenage mistakes and not feel remorse.
I was a very self willed, stubborn child to my own admission. The only question in my mind as to the way my parents “parented” is that my sister (6 years younger) questions the same thing about our upbringing.
I am not against spanking or paddeling. I just wish I had known at the time how much my parents loved me, their desire for me to obey and that I had used more restraint in the way I used coporal punishment with my own children.
Not all parents are discerning with the use of that type of correction. I think that is why there is so much dissention on the subject. Godly correction sometimes requires “spare not the rod” but much teaching is needed for young parents not to punish in the heat of anger.
We really fail in our churches today with the parenting issue. I can’t have helped but notice with many in our own church who really don’t have any idea of the mistakes they are making with their children. I also notice the ones who are doing a great job. Their children are obedient and yet have a great relationship with theri parents.
How do we gently correct those who are getting it all wrong on the parenting issue? I have served in my church as a Sunday School teacher and I have seen the parenting mistakes that were made a generation ago bring about very sorrowful events.
Could we as a congregation, witnessing those failed parenting mistakes, have helped them be avoided had we stepped in to help? Would our advice been received? I’m not sure. All I know is, that in a small church, in a small town, there have been three different families suffer immeasurable grief from the death of their children. We all were not greatly surprised, however saddened.
I hope this generation will be more outspoken. That they will step in when they see children in need of a firmer hand.
Why oh why do we sit back in submission when parents fail so miserably?
It is the church’s responsibility to teach and support parents, not the government’s to make laws on how it should be done. When the church fails thier responsibility we invite others to dictate what will be.
When we fail, we leave the door wide open for laws forbidding Biblical parenting.
I hope this has helped give perspective to this issue.