[afraidfortherepublic]

How is it irresponsible to leave your property in the hands of the local police department?

I guess I missed that. Did this story say the house was the responsibility of the police department? I sure didn't read that here. Or are you inferring something that wasn't written?

The parents left their OWN TEENAGER home alone, who invited friends over and then left them unsupervised in the house while he took off to spend the rest of the weekend at the family cottage. Obviously these parents had not raised their own child to have very good sense.

I raised FOUR teeneagers and they never would have dared do such a thing. And I made sure that the neighbors knew when I was gone and that they were free to stop any parties that were gathering steam -- there was NO TOLERANCE for such an activity, and the kids and neighbors knew it. Besides, I used to tell them that I didn't know when I would be home; and I would pop in at unexpected times, just to prove the point.

I used to pop in unexpectedly when they were at college too. You should have seen the shocked look on my daughter's face when she was walking home from class on a Wednesday afternoon and she spotted me driving around the streets of Waco, TX looking for her apartment when she was a Freshman. She was glad to see me because we went out shopping for her, but the example was set. Mom or Dad might show up at any time, and you'd better be living where you said you were and with whom you said you were, or there would be He## to pay.

Mom has shown up at odd times at Fraternity and Sorority houses too, and I was always greeted graciously by my children, as well as their friends. Most kids appreciate a parent that cares.

[codebreaker]

That a great idea, sure will make them keep their rooms clean if they think Mom or Dad will be over at any minute!

[HairOfTheDog]

I am sure my caring and watchful Dad also believes in his heart that his nice kids never had a party in the house, and I know he has no idea that we once tried to fit a keg in the refrigerator.

I hope he always believes that. It is the way it should be.

[Chemnitz]

Agreed 100%. I knew a kid whose father let him keep all hours and smoke dope. I asked him if it made him happy. He said with great sadness and anger, "No, because I know he doesn't care." Kids know that. They may rage like gorillas about the rules, do some chest thumping, but they know what real love is.

I supervised a bunch of 7th grade boys, our son included, on a school trip to a winter resort. I don't like crabby kids who haven't slept, so I made sure they all went to sleep each night. I caught two who thought they could fool me. The last words I heard that night were from my son, saying proudly, "I told you my dad was mean." I had no trouble with any of them and we had a great time.

We used the surprise appearance method to keep kids in their rooms at a big youth gathering. All night long the men prowled the halls. We caught a couple of them, one sneaking around in an orange t-shirt. My son was no trouble. He said, "I'm not afraid of what they will do to me if I am in the wrong. I am afraid of what YOU will do." It made for a wonderful and peaceful teen transition, resolving into marriage and then (in the proper order) two delightful grandchildren.

The worst kids are the ones whose parents play the role of criminal lawyers, arguing the innocence of their clients.

[pray4liberty]

By golly, is that good advice. I'm going to try it. Hehehe, that will sure put a dent in my daughter's style in about..say, 3 years, when Mom or Dad just happens to show up unexpectedly and unannounced. Keep 'em on their toes!