The same thing happened in our family years ago. Law enforcement personnel were amazed when we didn’t try to explain away our child’s behavior. We assured them that, in the past when our child violated our standards it was a family matter. When that same child violated the law, it was a legal matter. Our child, too, learned much by having to face the consequences meted out by the court and by having our love be undiminished. The police in our town mused that they wished that more parents would allow their teens to face unpleasant consequences associated with their behavior.

Betsy,
The Grand Island (Nebraska) Independent ran your article about how your friend handled her child’s shoplifting event. I highly applaud this kind of information.

I was a youth pastor for 27 years and my wife is an elementary principal.
We have seen way too many parents run in to protect and rescue their children in these kinds of situations. We love our kids when we allow them to connect actions with consequences.

Kudos to you for the correct perspective you shared in you column.

Thanks for these encouraging comments – I was so impressed with my friend. Hope I would handle it in the same way!

Betsy