Take note of your reactions.
Then go read the update that the father wrote. Did your reaction change?
After that, read what I say if you want to hear it.
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My thoughts:
Apparently this video has gone viral.
Apparently this is causing an uproar and outrage. Really? Talk about overreacting.
Kids need to know that they are not as savvy as they think and they cannot always pull the wool over their parent's eyes (online or otherwise). Knowing that Facebook lets you make "groups" then excluding the family group and the church group from a nasty post about your parents, and thinking it would not be seen by them is stupid. This is further proof that kids do not always really see the possible ramifications of using social networking online.
Second, when the parents buy a kid a laptop it is their right to take it away and if that includes shooting it up with a gun why should that matter?
Third, as was said in the update the lesson to learn here was to listen to your father and when he says something he means it, and that he will follow up and will really do what he said he would do. I think she got it this time.
When my kids were younger I thought I was doing all the right things and that a right action would have a great outcome. I bet the harshest critics of what this father did do not yet have teenagers. Teens can surprise you and disappoint you and shock you and hurt you with some things they say. The saying is not always to your face with words but with this generation the saying may be on the Internet instead.
I still feel parents should do what they think is right and best but I no longer am under the illusion that even if I do everything supposedly right, that my child will turn out fantastic. I have let go of that notion. If that were true than kids of good parents would not use drugs or get addicted to drugs or become alcoholics or commit crimes or cheat in school or commit suicide or (fill in the blank). Offspring of good parents do sometimes make bad choices and do bad things, now and forever.
Our generation has been told by the experts how to parent kids to help them have high self-esteem and to help them achieve their dreams in life. Sadly, something about their very good lives is perceived by some (or many) teens as being not good enough. Not only do they not realize how great they have it now, they don't feel grateful or thankful to their parents. Some kids, tens, and even young adults seem pretty unhappy despite having really good lives compared to how their own parents were raised. Sometimes they come across as being over-indulged brats, to put it bluntly.
There is nothing more disheartening to a parent than after being generous and loving and providing so much for a child who instead of thanking them, turns on them and complains about how awful their life is and blames the parent.
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Extra kudos goes out to this father for his refusal to do a media tour. I love this, which he said:
"Attention Media Outlets:
While we appreciate the interest you're all putting forth to get in touch with us regarding the video, we're not going to go on your talk show, not going to call in to your radio show, and not going to be in your TV mini-series.
Some of you think I made an acceptable parenting decision and others think I didn't. However, I can't think of any way myself or my daughter can ...respond to a media outlet that won't be twisted out of context. The Dallas news TV news already showed that in their brief 5 minute interview with the psychologist.
Additionally, there's absolutely NO way I'm going to send my child the message that it's OK to gain from something like this. It would send her a message that it's OK to profit at the expense of someone else's embarrassment or misfortune and that's now how I was raised, nor how she has been raised."