Comments on: Parents Mag Says the Best States Do the Parenting for You http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/ It rankles me when somebody tries to tell somebody what to do. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:39:42 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Brian http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81400 Brian Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:25:24 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81400 I'm so glad to see that the Democratic People's Republic of New Jersey ranked highly on that list. I’m so glad to see that the Democratic People’s Republic of New Jersey ranked highly on that list.

]]> By: Nick T http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81240 Nick T Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:53:22 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81240 I can imagine a scenario where having these things be "laws" is actually ahrmful to kids as well - though certainly not the readers of perent mag who would never break this law anyway and so it serves no purpose for them. But as a lawyer in the child-welfare system, I have seen many times where parents merely breaking the law turns into get DSS involved in their lives and maybe even kids being removed from what are otherwise perfectly decent homes. Of course if a parent is not using a car seat for a child of necessqary age someone should inform the parent, but when you make something illegal then everyone else feels they should step in or that kids should be removed and traumatized. Case in point, there are almost no cases where the only complaint is alcohol abuse (even after a DUI), but get picked up for possessing weed and a referral will be made to someone to go "investigate." I can imagine a scenario where having these things be “laws” is actually ahrmful to kids as well – though certainly not the readers of perent mag who would never break this law anyway and so it serves no purpose for them.
But as a lawyer in the child-welfare system, I have seen many times where parents merely breaking the law turns into get DSS involved in their lives and maybe even kids being removed from what are otherwise perfectly decent homes. Of course if a parent is not using a car seat for a child of necessqary age someone should inform the parent, but when you make something illegal then everyone else feels they should step in or that kids should be removed and traumatized.

Case in point, there are almost no cases where the only complaint is alcohol abuse (even after a DUI), but get picked up for possessing weed and a referral will be made to someone to go “investigate.”

]]> By: Christopher Monnier http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81194 Christopher Monnier Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:28:58 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81194 The most discouraging part of the story for me was this: <blockquote>When my 7-year-old says he’s too big for a bike helmet, I just remind him that it’s the law. Argument over.”</blockquote> So <i>that's</i> what shuts the kid up, respect for the law? Hopefully that kid will be curious enough when he gets a little older, learn to think for himself, and never accept "it's the law" as sufficient rationale for complying with a request. The immediate thought of anyone in such a situation should be, "yeah, but is it a <i>just</i> law?" The most discouraging part of the story for me was this:

When my 7-year-old says he’s too big for a bike helmet, I just remind him that it’s the law. Argument over.”

So that’s what shuts the kid up, respect for the law? Hopefully that kid will be curious enough when he gets a little older, learn to think for himself, and never accept “it’s the law” as sufficient rationale for complying with a request. The immediate thought of anyone in such a situation should be, “yeah, but is it a just law?”

]]> By: Edmund Dantes http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81179 Edmund Dantes Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:21:11 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81179 Wait until the law is all children must turn in their parents for being un-American or believing in the wrong faith. Sorry Daddy, but it's the law. Enjoy your time in the re-education camp. I know I'll enjoy not having you or mommy around. (That'll teach you to punish me for missing my curfew). -- says the 16 year old kid that manipulates the system. Wait until the law is all children must turn in their parents for being un-American or believing in the wrong faith.

Sorry Daddy, but it’s the law. Enjoy your time in the re-education camp. I know I’ll enjoy not having you or mommy around. (That’ll teach you to punish me for missing my curfew). — says the 16 year old kid that manipulates the system.

]]> By: Harvey http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81165 Harvey Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:12:43 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81165 And lookie there! Mississippi. The least kid-friendly state! Imagine that... And lookie there! Mississippi. The least kid-friendly state! Imagine that…

]]> By: Nick Gallias http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81114 Nick Gallias Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:19:09 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81114 Until parents take care of their children, they are doomed. Until parents take care of their children, they are doomed.

]]> By: Matt http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81100 Matt Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:50:17 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81100 I am far more outraged by the video link at the end of the post than by the Parents Mag doing a list of the best (nanny) states. Saw this story a while back on the news here in TX & couldn't believe what I was seeing. I am far more outraged by the video link at the end of the post than by the Parents Mag doing a list of the best (nanny) states. Saw this story a while back on the news here in TX & couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

]]> By: Burdell http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81095 Burdell Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:35:17 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81095 Clearly, two things are true: 1) someone needs to make a list including factors like "bike helmet *use*" rather than "bike helmet *laws*, and 2) anyone smart enough to think of that is too busy doing something constructive rather than "ranking states" Clearly, two things are true:

1) someone needs to make a list including factors like “bike helmet *use*” rather than “bike helmet *laws*, and

2) anyone smart enough to think of that is too busy doing something constructive rather than “ranking states”

]]> By: Alex http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81087 Alex Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:57:58 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81087 So parents can tell their kids that there's a Santa Claus and an Easter Bunny but need an actual law to tell the kids they have to get in a booster seat? So parents can tell their kids that there’s a Santa Claus and an Easter Bunny but need an actual law to tell the kids they have to get in a booster seat?

]]> By: tfl: The Flatiron Life » Blog Archive » Parenting Tactic I Will Never Use http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81083 tfl: The Flatiron Life » Blog Archive » Parenting Tactic I Will Never Use Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:47:48 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81083 [...] don’t think I can respond better than Radley Balko, God forbid you teach the kid to wear a helmet because it’s the rational thing to do. Maybe teach [...] [...] don’t think I can respond better than Radley Balko, God forbid you teach the kid to wear a helmet because it’s the rational thing to do. Maybe teach [...]

]]> By: Chris http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81078 Chris Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:31:04 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81078 I'm sure that safety-negligent half-wits just sit around perusing the state codes, find out they've been breaking the law on child-restraints, then come to their senses about the error of their ways. I’m sure that safety-negligent half-wits just sit around perusing the state codes, find out they’ve been breaking the law on child-restraints, then come to their senses about the error of their ways.

]]> By: DaveT http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81077 DaveT Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:28:28 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81077 To be fair, a parent could say "it's the law" and also explain why it makes good sense to where the helmet. To be fair, a parent could say “it’s the law” and also explain why it makes good sense to where the helmet.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81068 Kevin Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:05:10 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81068 Brilliant parenting. Teach your children that the thing called 'the law' has more force than you, deserves more respect than you, and is the final authority. They may as well tell their children "I am but an inconsequential person with no authority, do not listen to me, listen to The Law." It's funny to me that we need a law to educate people about common sense. Why, without laws indicating how often and with what items we should bathe, it's a wonder so many of us are presentable on a daily basis. Brilliant parenting. Teach your children that the thing called ‘the law’ has more force than you, deserves more respect than you, and is the final authority. They may as well tell their children “I am but an inconsequential person with no authority, do not listen to me, listen to The Law.”

It’s funny to me that we need a law to educate people about common sense. Why, without laws indicating how often and with what items we should bathe, it’s a wonder so many of us are presentable on a daily basis.

]]> By: ZappaCrappa http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81067 ZappaCrappa Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:49:29 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81067 I guess I've been doing it ALL wrong all these years with my statement..."Because I said so...argument over." Why do I have the feeling that this is also the guy who gives in to his obnoxious child's every whiney demand for candy and toys while waiting in line at the check out... People that need to be legislated on how to raise their children shouldn't be allowed to have them...just my opinion. I guess I’ve been doing it ALL wrong all these years with my statement…”Because I said so…argument over.” Why do I have the feeling that this is also the guy who gives in to his obnoxious child’s every whiney demand for candy and toys while waiting in line at the check out…

People that need to be legislated on how to raise their children shouldn’t be allowed to have them…just my opinion.

]]> By: Mike H http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81061 Mike H Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:24:04 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81061 So what does this guy do when his kid refuses to eat his veggies? I picture him sitting in a corner, defeated and impotent, waiting for the state legislature to pass that long-overdue Broccoli Bill. So what does this guy do when his kid refuses to eat his veggies?

I picture him sitting in a corner, defeated and impotent, waiting for the state legislature to pass that long-overdue Broccoli Bill.

]]> By: UCrawford http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-81060 UCrawford Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:17:35 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/03/19/parents-mag-says-best-states-do-the-parenting-for-you/#comment-81060 I guess Parents magazine assumes that their audience is as stupid and unfit to parent as the politicians do. I guess Parents magazine assumes that their audience is as stupid and unfit to parent as the politicians do.

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