Replies

"...So you are one of those types who blame parents for the sins of their children?..."

A more careful reading of my comment, “…You've got to assign a healthy dose of blame to the parents here…” would reveal that I’m not speculating that this blame is at the 100% level.

Had I intended to take the absolute position I would have used a different set of words to convey that thought. One possibility would have been to substitute the word: ‘the’ for the words: ‘a healthy dose of’ in my comment above.

"...Do you have kids?..."

Three. All top drawer performers.

"...What do you think of those families where one child out of 3 or 5 becomes the black sheep? Do you blame the parents? Just curious...

There are certainly cases where the most plausible explanation for a given child’s failure to develop normally would appear to fall into the ‘Bad Seed’ category. Most failures, however, involve parental failure of one sort or another.

It’s important to note that a parent or parents can fail, miserably, and be completely oblivious to their failure. The mere belief that you’ve been a ‘good parent’ does not automatically make it so. In cases where there is evidence suggesting otherwise (an errant child) at least some degree of parental failure is the most likely cause of the child’s failure to develop correctly.

I respect your thoughtful response and I do apologize to ''assume'' that you laid full blame on the parents. I should have wrote something like "Do you believe that parents are more at fault for bad teenage behaviour". I strongly disagree with that, unless of course the parent is neglectful, abusive etc.. I'm talking about those teens who reject good parenting for whatever reason.

Unfortunately, the article in case doesn't mention the parenting skills, the child's upbringing, his schooling, his social skills etc.. I'd say he wasn't too smart, hiring a ''prostitute''.. This tells me him and his buddies were very ignorant and careless in SO MANY WAYS. Naiveness at its best.

In my humble opinion, what a child does outside of a parents control is the child's responsibility..

There is a proverbs that is fitting in most cases.. raise a child in the way he should go, and when he is older, he shall not depart from it. This tells me that teens sway from parents guidance.. That's how bible instructors have explained it to me. I think it's true. Rebellion or acting out as a teen is somewhat normal in the sense that they are trying to gain independence and test boundaries in a different way than when they were younger.

I am NOT giving them excuses..heaven knows they are accountable for their actions.