Tess Chapin, a 15-year-old from Sunnyside, Queens, who has been grounded for five weeks, started a Facebook group called “1000 to get tess ungrounded.” My advice for the parents of 15-year-old, Tess Chapin who have grounded their daughter for drinking alcohol and breaking curfew and now are the objects of an electronic campaign to commute the punishment (click on the blog title to be redirected to the original article): STAY THE COURSE!
Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times
Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)–Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Having been blessed with sharing the light of Jesus Christ with 50 foster children; having seen the devastating effects of children who are reared in God-less households not only in the foster system, but in the children who frequent our child care center as well as the children in our neighborhood, I support the parents who are willing to teach their children that there are consequences to bad choices in life.
Too many children are growing up thinking that they can do what they want regardless of who they step on and hurt. Too many children are growing up to be selfish prima-donnas who think they don’t have to follow the same rules as other people; who are not accountable to a God who will one day call them to judgment because He is a just and holy God.
The future would be much brighter if we were training our children to be self-less (in the image of Christ) rather than selfish (in the image of those who say there is no God and thus no higher power to be accountable to). The world would be a better place if our children were taught the power of being an adopted child of God rather than narcissistic, egocentric Hollywood stars and starlets.
Do not be afraid to discipline your child, knowing that Godly discipline in not about punishment, but instead, it is about training. Don’t let the “Free Tess” petitions or the “i’m going to drive you crazy” actions of your daughter sway you.
In the end, you will be doing your part to raise a civil, gracious, humble, law-abiding, obedient, and respectful human being who can be a benefit to society.
Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)–The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
