Parenthood

Should the Government Have the Right to Take Your Child?

Posted on by Cool Pappa

The Parental Rights Amendment has been consistently coming up and I decided to look more into it to see it was just another political overreaction or if the issue actually has legs. Well, it may have legs larger than Arnold’s, as there does seem to be enough reason to be concerned. After hearing of this story in Detroit, MI, I figured it was time to get a post going. A Detroit woman shot at a Child Protective Service worker and police escort, as they were there to take the child because they did not feel she was getting the child adequate medical attention.

You can read the details here: http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/03/25/tense-stand-off-in-police-situation/

While I am NOT endorsing the mother’s actions without knowing all of the facts, I will say that it raises my eyebrows. A loving parent, could have their child taken, if the government does not feel they are acting in the best interest of the child. While this isn’t completely new, the current “courting” between the U.S. and the U.N. could give the government even more power, and the parents less. You see, if the United States adopted the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child treaty for this country, it could be used as law for all parents in the United States.

So what you say?

Well, remember it would only take a court decision using this treaty to back its decision, to set precedent for other court decisions. According to some, some judges are already beginning to refer to this treaty in their court decisions.

So what you say?

If you are a homeschooling parent, you already are aware of the fact that the government could take away this right if they were to deem homeschooling as unfit for your children.

If your child has been diagnosed as having some disorder (e.g. ADHD) and the school feels that it is in the best interest of your child to be put on medications that you do not approve of, what would you do? You would like to seek an alternative, but what would you do if it gets noted that you refused treatment and you were not looking out for the best interest of your child?

I personally know of a case where a family decided that the cancer treatment their loved one was receiving was just too much to bare. They sought alternative forms of therapy, much of which is not “approved” by Western doctors. Had this been their child instead of an adult, they’d like been jailed if the doctor did not approve of the outside medical attention.

You can read more about the issue and efforts to get the Constitution amended at: http://www.parentalrights.org/

There was a documentary on the issue that was aired on various networks in early March, the trailer is below.

Take a look at the issue for yourself and decide, is this something we should fear or embrace as a parent?

 

Super Bowl Edition of: “What Did Boney Say?”

Posted on by Cool Pappa

Any mention of the Super Bowl, deserves a picture of the 1985 Bears!

My two boys love football and because of this, we did’t have the heart to make them go to bed early on Super Bowl Sunday.

The girls on the other hand…well, they just want to stay up to get the boys in trouble, forcing me and mom to send everyone to bed.

But Boney catches on fast.

It’s her bedtime and my wife says, “Come on, lets get ready for bed.”

Boney: No I want to stay up and watch football!

Mom: You don’t care about football.

Boney: But mommy, I do care about football.

Mom: You do? Who’s playing?

Boney: Nobody, but I’ll watch them!

Somehow I’d bet she has a better chance of picking the winner than I would…

“Junior Raising Junior” – The Cycle of Teenage Fatherhood

Posted on by Cool Pappa

While 13 sounds young enough to make headlines, in many areas of this country, that would not seem too surprising...even less if it's a 13 year old girl!

We often talk about generations of “babies raising babies” in the context of a young mother raising a baby, who later becomes a teenage mom herself. However, what about “junior raising junior”, as in a young father raising a son, who becomes a teenage-father?

An article published at the Yale Office of Public Affairs & Communications (http://opac.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=7208) reports that the Yale School of Public Health found sons of adolescent fathers are nearly twice as likely to perpetuate the cycle of young parenthood and become teenage dads themselves. While the deleterious effects of teenage motherhood are well studied, often talked about and greatly feared, teenage-fatherhood if often viewed from a much different perspective. However, like teenage-motherhood, the decision to become a father unleashes challenges for both the father and the child.

Those on the outside looking in often ask, “How could this happen? Did the child not learn the lesson watching the struggles of the parent?”

The article gives some indication as to why the cycle continues. ““The mechanism of this intergenerational cycle remains unclear. However, research suggests that parents are a major factor in shaping adolescent attitudes and often communicate their values and expectations through their behavior,” Sipsma said.”

In other words young dad, your actions speak louder than your words.

In upcoming posts we will explore how to be a Teenage CornerstoneDad. It can be done, it is possible and I am a testimony to this fact. I became a father at 19 years old, while working a “deadend” job and still living with my parents. Suffice to say, it cost me far more than I would have ever imagined.

It will cost you far more than what you or any around you can imagine as well. Understand that I am not just talking about money. But, financially you will pay an enormous price as well.

We will also focus on the possibility of a tremendous payoff. This could be the opportunity of a lifetime for you to step up and be the man that you needed to learn how to be, albeit a bit early and before marriage.

If you are a teenage or even a single-father in your early 20’s, I would like to hear from you. Feel free to post your story in the comments section.