Thinking about this parenting business...

It occurs to me that pop psychology is encouraging us as parents to be less
and less authoritative (I didn't say authoritarian), less disciplining
(teaching), and to "buddy-up" more with our children.

You know, my kids don't need me to be a pal or a buddy.  That's what other
kids are for.  There's plenty of time for being "best friends" when they are
grown.  What they need is for me to be a dad--a role model, a teacher, a
disciplinarian that, yes, "lays down the law".

I'm not terribly concerned with how society treats my child--able bodied or
not.  My concern is how my child treats society.  The responsibility for
that lies totally on mine and my spouse's--if I'm married--shoulders.  It is
not the school's responsibility, it is not the government's responsibility,
it's not the responsibility of some nebulous "village".  I am responsible
for instilling respect, honesty, charitable love and virtue in this child.
The child has the responsibility, over time, to learn and apply these
principles--to develop an "other"-centerd perspective instead of a
self-centered perspective.

Does that mean I can't enjoy my kids, long to be with them when I'm at work,
have great fun?  Of course not!  It simply means that they understand that
there is a hierarchy where I as the parent am the family's leader until
there come such a time as they leave my care.  Anything outside of that
design is a prescription for disaster.

-Kyle