What is going on with our parenting skills - has it been that long

We are very strict in our house as well! However, I don't necessarily agree that it is always the parents fault when a child goes astray. This is why. When I was a teenager, I was a bit of a hellraiser...okay, probably a lot more than a bit. I had (have) great parents, that were always there for me and made sure they always knew where I was....BUT, I was a great manipulator and I would lie about where I was or have my friends cover for me (of course I was a teenager then). Years and years later, my parents are shocked when I tell them some of the crap I pulled. This of course, is probably why my kids don't get away with ANYTHING. I know all the little tricks and stuff they could pull. Of course now that I am a parent and too old to be acting crazy like that I realize that the reason I never did anything too nuts is my good upbringing. I was never in jail, never stole anything or stuff like that. I think as parents, we have control (or should have control) over our children to a certain age. Now as far as the discussion goes, YES a parent should be responsible for blowing pot in her babies face, or a little baby that is smokes....that is neglect and those parents should be charged. I think when the kids become teenagers, it isn't necesarily all the parents fault...these kids have peer pressure and usually the parents don't even know what is going on. I know in my case, they thought there child was a perfect little teenager, not someone that was ditching school to go down to the beach!

Lately stories like this have been all over. I think in the end it is the parents responsibility and they should have to be held accountable. There is always one more step to take and they need to keep going to get their child all of the help that is necessary.

sad reality indeed that the number of parents who do not have every right to be parents are increasing. dysfunctional families are on the rise. but these parents, too, are products of equally dysfunctional parents and families. it's like a cycle.

I would have to say that it is the parent's fault. I see that a lot of parents these days don't really pay attention to their children. I know that there are a lot of kids that live near us and their parents really don't pay attention to them. For my kids, they have to be home by the time that the sun starts to go down, however, some of the other kids in our neighborhood are running around until the time that my children have to be in bed. I think that it is unexcusable, but there is really nothing that I can do about it.

I don't have kids yet, but I'm practically helping raise some of my nephews. There's a reason why they call being a parent a "responsibility". From the moment the kids are born, the parent should be responsible in all aspects of the child's life, up until a certain age of course. But the values that these kids are taught when they are young will stay with them until they are old. And it's not just about the lessons that we actually say to the children, it's also about what they see in the adults. The lessons that we tell them are reinforced if they see us do them as well. So it's so important to practice what we preach. Like a previous responder said, he got in trouble, but not too big a trouble, primarily because he still has values that guided him. Kudos to his parents for that. Also, all this talk about human rights and freedom are not helping any. Sure, kids have freedoms as humans, but parents have responsibilities as parents, too. The proper amount of punishment, again I say PROPER, should still be enforced in the household to establish authority and to teach the child the value of authority and respect. If "authority" is established in the house even while the kids are young, then there will be no, or little, need for punishments in the future because they already know how to behave properly. When it comes to how a child behaves, it's all the parents' fault. Parents who won't accept this fact, are not really good parents. Period. When these kids become adults, what happens to them is their own fault already.

Parents like this are irresponsible and they themselves haven't really grown up yet. Seems like they like their kids to follow in their footsteps, they didn't stop to think whether some things are actually bad for their children.

this is a hard one as you never know what goes on behind closed doors do you,but in my opinion there are 2 types of parents; can't be bothered to try want help but get none i know people that fall into both catagories,but from the outside looking in it seems the same,can't be bothered,don't care,,unless you know the parents personally you can't judge them on their parenting skills. but getting back to the examples you mentioned,blowing smoke in a kids face and letting a 2 yr old smoke is child neglect and child abuse,these people should be sent to prison,,i'm waffling now,sorry

I use to be a teacher that is what I went to college for but after teaching for 9 years and dealing with the parents and children I gave up the profession it is a shame what parents have done to the children in today's society. I may be old fashion but I do believe when I was in school the kids were alot differnt than they are today and it has to do with the way the children are raised. When I was a child I wouldn't think of doing half the things children do today.