Notice I didn't say "punishment fit the crime"? In parenting, our role is to teach our children to think for themselves, not think for them. We are rarely punishing if we are objective - we are however providing consequences.
A recent media sensation is the 11-year old California girl who was caught twerking at a recent school dance. Her mother was outraged and sought to teach her a lesson. The method? Her punishment was to stand on a busy street corner holding up a large sign stating something like "I disrespected my parents by twerking at the school dance." Her mother was standing nearby as this girl held up her sign for I don't know how long.
In the picture, you see the girl in the shortest of shorts. The mom is in a mid-calf dress off camera.
The girl was standing in revealing apparel at a prominent location as people drove by oggling her. What did this have to do with her behavior at the dance?
How is shaming this girl teaching her anything about behaving appropriately next time? Was the mom just upset about the body gyrations? What about the clothing she provides for her daughter when she isn't at a dance? Clothing that was apparently acceptable for her daughter to wear in public as evidenced by the shorts.
This girl might have disresecpted her parents, but she disrespected herself even more. THAT is what needs to be explored, and mom can start by editing the clothes closet and checking out how consistent she is. This girl got a mixed message, and I doubt she understood why twerking was not appropriate.
The mom should have been teaching her daughter that she has value and promise, and not to waste any part of herself - including gyrations but even thoughts - on anything that devalues her.
Thank you Miley Cyrus for providing even more opportunities for parents to coach their kids in making chaste choices.
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