8mm
Posted on 09/01/2008 5:42:39 PM PDT by DallasBiff
Thank you for answering question about Bella and Juno :-)
Yes.
Nope, I expect to have some of my own one day. But not this year, when my daughter's 17. Not before she graduates high school, of college for that matter. I don't expect to become a grandfather before I walk her down the aisle. My daughter has been brought up with more sense than that.
No, I assume the obvious. No form of birth control was used. If it turns out that they were taking precautions and she got pregnant anyway then I will most certainly admit my error.
You don't know what Mom taught this daughter. Sometimes, even kids who have been taught to use birth control don't do it. Kids are kids and sometimes they do dumb, risky and impulsive things even if their parents have cautioned them against dumb things.
We know what Palin advocated in schools - abstinence only, no sex education. Obviously there was a disconnect somewhere.
Is it luck? Or is it because you were a good parent and instilled in your children common sense and an understanding that all actions have consequences?
It's a little late to worry about whether she should have or shouldn't have. The deed is done. The good news is that she's making the right choices after finding out she's pregnant.
I would ask how any pregnant high school student can be considered good news.
Although that is a possibility, it isn't obvious.
We know what Palin advocated in schools - abstinence only, no sex education. Obviously there was a disconnect somewhere.
No, that isn't quite clear. Do you know what this girl was taught at school? Do you know what she may have been taught at home? Do you know all the components of the various Abstinence programs? Did you know that any program that mentions abstinence at all, is lumped together with Abstinence Only?
You are clearly only interested in jumping to whichever conclusions make Bristol and her mother look the worst.
Do you think that only good parents have children who act "good" and only bad parents have children who act "bad"?
Of course, there is the whole gray area involving "good" kids who have done bad things but haven't gotten caught, thus allowing everyone to believe that the child and parents are good.
What about parents we can all see are horrible people and yet, their kids never get into any trouble at all?
And...what happens when parents have more than one child, one of whom acts good and one who acts bad? Which one do they get to take credit for?
It's astonishing, really, that you don't give 16 or 17 year old people ANY credit or blame at all. They can have no independent thought, I guess. They're little robots who parents have programed them with either "good" things or "bad" things.
Methinks someone doth worry about his own daughter too much.
Obviously not enough, considering her situation.
You are clearly only interested in jumping to whichever conclusions make Bristol and her mother look the worst.
She is a pregnant, unmarried, seventeen-year-old high school student. I am at a loss as to how anyone can see this as a good thing.
I think that when children make stupid mistakes, especially on this order of magnitude, then yes, the parents take some of the blame. It is, to some extent, a failure on their part.
It's astonishing, really, that you don't give 16 or 17 year old people ANY credit or blame at all. They can have no independent thought, I guess. They're little robots who parents have programed them with either "good" things or "bad" things.
Oh get off it. Bristol Palin will be paying for this error in judgement for many years. Her childhood has ended. Ready or not, she's an adult now with adult responsibilities and adult cares. Obviously somewhere along the way, it wasn't made clear to her that if you're going to mess around then you'd better take precautions otherwise something like this would happen. And wouldn't you think that might be the parent's responsibility?
Tell us the words, Oh Wise One, that we can say to our teens that will prevent any bad decision or mistake.
She is a pregnant, unmarried, seventeen-year-old high school student. I am at a loss as to how anyone can see this as a good thing.
They could have made YOU happy by simply spiriting her away for an abortion and then you wouldn't have anything at all to worry about. YOU would never have known! And because YOU don't know, then you can be assured that the parents are good parents, right? That they didn't is a good thing, IMO.
Well, of course, because they didn't program their robot properly! Teens have NO minds of their own at all.
Obviously somewhere along the way, it wasn't made clear to her that if you're going to mess around then you'd better take precautions otherwise something like this would happen. And wouldn't you think that might be the parent's responsibility?
HOW DO YOU KNOW that it wasn't made clear to her? Perhaps it was crystal clear and she did it anyway. Do you seriously think that teens are walking around with no thoughts in their heads than the ones parents have placed there? Has it ever occurred to you that sometimes teens do things they KNOW are stupid and risky, and sometimes they do them anyway. "It won't happen to me" "I can handle it!"
I pray that you NEVER see the truth of what I've said through personal experiences of your own. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.
My 17 year old daughter had a mind of her own. She isn't pregnant, because she's aware of what is involved in all that. And she is aware of that because of the conversations she and her mother have had, and in the example we, as parents, have set and the teachings we have instilled. Now if my daughter got pregnant or stuck her hand in a buzz saw or robbed a liquor store then I, as her parent, would have to accept part of the responsibility for not making the folly of such an act clear enough. I realize we live in a blame-free society where it's always someone elses fault when our kid makes a major mistake. But I don't accept that.
I think it's great that you have such a thoughtful, responsible daughter. But not all kids analyze every action they are about to take. Some kids are determined to prove mom and dad wrong. "I'm smarter than they think, I CAN handle this!" Some kids have to knock themselves against the wall a few times before they give in.
It is VERY easy to say, "I told her not to stick a fork in a light socket. I explained that it would hurt her badly and I modeled the appropriate behavior. She never did stick a fork in a light socket, therefore, I am a wonderful parent!" Some kids just have to do it, to prove it to themselves or because they're contrary creatures or whatever.
You can't determine a kid's personality by parenting. If you could, I'd have two children who were exactly alike. In reality they are as different as night and day. One is pretty darn compliant. The other was determined to argue (often for the sake of arguing) with me over everything. I have a brother just like him! Sometimes, after all the talking and all the examples you've set, you just have to stand back and cross your fingers and let them have the space to learn the lesson themselves.
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