The “12 Rules for Raising Delinquent Children” was issued by the Houston, Texas, Police Department in a leaflet that was included in the printed copy of the Chamber of Commerce publication. Here are the rules if you want to raise a delinquent child:
- Begin at infancy to give your child everything they want. In this way the child grows up believing that the world owes them something.
- When they pick up bad words laugh at them. This will make them think they are cute and encourage them to pick up cuter phrases that will blow your mind.
- Never give them any spiritual training. Let them wait until they are 21 and let them decide for themselves.
- Avoid using the word “wrong”. It may develop a guilt complex. This will condition them to believe later, when they are arrested for stealing a car, that society is against them and they are being persecuted.
- Pick up all they leave lying around the house, books, shoes, clothing. Do everything for them so they will be experienced in throwing all responsibility to someone else.
- Let them read any printed matter they can get their hands on. Be sure to sterilize the silverware and plates and dishes, but let their minds feast on all kinds of garbage.
- Quarrel frequently in the presence of your children. And that way they will not be shocked when the home breaks up later.
- Give the child all the spending money they want. And never let them earn their own. Why should they have it as tough as we had it?
- Satisfy their every craving for food, drink, and sensual pursuits. See that all their desires are gratified. Denial may lead to harmful frustrations.
- Always take your child’s side against the neighbors, teachers, and police. They are all prejudice against your child.
- When they get into real trouble, apologize for yourself by saying, I never could do anything with them.
- Prepare yourself for a life of grief. For you probably will have it.
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14 responses so far ↓
1 Kelly@SHE-POWER (5 comments.) // Aug 10, 2008 at 7:30 pm
This is so true, especially the “give your child whatever they want without earning it”, and “Take their side all the time and don’t teach them consequences”.
My son is only 4 but I find it shocking how many people make excuses for their child’s bad behaviour and insist their kid could never do anything wrong. “If someone was hitting, well it wasn’t my Johnny!” It’s so silly because at my son’s age all kids are naughty at times and act out and this is where we are supposed to teach them about respecting others and themselves and show them how to deal with their anger and frustration appropriately.
Great piece.
Kelly
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[…] ← 12 Rules for Raising Delinquent Children […]
3 Lin (1019 comments.) // Aug 11, 2008 at 7:37 am
Hi Kelly,
I have so much respect for teachers dealing with the struggles and conflicts caused by delinquent children, and many parents just ignore it and place the responsibility on someone else. Like you said, “it’s not MY child acting like that”.
4 Josh (1 comments.) // Aug 11, 2008 at 3:57 pm
What you wrote about delinquency and children is very true. The list is very comprehensive. If only all parents listened.
5 display booths (61 comments.) // Aug 11, 2008 at 9:18 pm
hi Lin, This is a fantastic post! I echo Kelly. I know a few parents with children like this. The kids are about six now… I feel for the parents when the kids are sixteen, and then twenty six, and so on… but parents tend to get what they create.
The only thing is that it’s hard for me to believe this was really published by a police department (of course it was Texas). It surprises me in today’s “sensitive” and “politically correct” environment.
Great post.
~ Steve (aka “display booths”)
6 Gloria (1 comments.) // Aug 12, 2008 at 4:32 am
Interesting blog. I think the topic is completely different from other blogs which I have visited recently. I like it.
7 Lin (1019 comments.) // Aug 12, 2008 at 5:46 am
Steve, I even found this list on snopes.com as being real and true from the Houston P.D.
Maybe Texan’s, or at least some Texan’s, aren’t afraid to say how they feel about things regardless of how sensitive and politically correct others expect.
8 display booths (61 comments.) // Aug 12, 2008 at 6:11 pm
hi Lin, This makes me think about moving to Texas… not very seriously though.
Again, it’s a great post, but probably will be missed by the people that should actually be reading it.
~ Steve
9 mitsy // Aug 14, 2008 at 11:36 pm
I intend to show this to my husband (a policeman) who did all of the above, and is STILL attempting to get me on board with him!!! EVERYTHING they have was better than what we as “elder” persons have. Why is it that so many policemen spoil their own, and haven’t a clue? Thank goodness for this, I have talked my head off while he UNDID all my early teachings out of his own misguided guilt and self serving (and need to be the “liked parent” syndrome). Was this my punishment for asking him to be more involved at HOME? HMMMMMMMMMMMMM. Well my youngest will have one parent, while he continues to do everything on this list to the oldest, one of which lives with him, at 28. He thought it was “cute” and good parenting apparently. Thanks thanks and more thanks. You would think a cop would know better, he didn’t. By the way we live in Texas.
10 Lin (1019 comments.) // Aug 15, 2008 at 5:28 am
Mitsy, with all the types of societal problems policemen see on a daily basis, including delinquent children, it’s rather odd that they wouldn’t clue in to the fact that delinquency starts in the home by how they are raised. And, you live in Texas? Wow!
It’s very sad that many parents nowadays have the firm belief that to be a good parent means being a friend to their child. Afraid to say no, afraid to set rules and give consequences when rules are not followed etc. Then they wonder why they get a call in the early morning hours because their kid is locked up in jail, or a policeman shows up on their doorstep with a warrant. Amazing…
11 Candle Monkey (16 comments.) // Aug 16, 2008 at 2:21 am
Hi Lin,
Even when all parents aren’t “following” these rules, due to the litigious nature of our society, often times, the schools take care of reinforcing many of these wonderful lessons.
I got a call last year from my son’s assistant principle. Apparently he was listening to his ipod in class, and disrupting the other students. I expected that he was in some pretty serious trouble.
As such, I was pretty amazed by what I heard next …
The assistant principle assured me that he wasn’t taking the teacher’s side (since it was merely his word against my son’s), and since there seemed to be a “personality” conflict, he was going to move my son to another class.
Needless to say, Justin and I had a “little talk” when he got home that day.
But even now, I still can’t get over the fact that the teacher’s word wasn’t good enough.
lol, and to think, I’d considered becoming a teacher after I retire from the military.
… not in a million years now. at least not in Hawaii for sure.
Todd
12 Lin (1019 comments.) // Aug 16, 2008 at 5:52 am
Hi Todd, I have so much respect and admiration for teachers today. Being a teacher is something I know I could never do, as today’s kids would drive me crazy with their disrespect of teachers and anyone else in roles of authority. And, as you said, even the school principal often is of no help at all.
Personality clash or not, I would listen to both my child and the teacher and then consider how I know my child better than anyone else and would decide for myself what to believe.
Then there would be firm consequences at home, regardless of any punishments or discipline the school may give such as detention etc.
Kids today show nearly no respect for teachers, but my kids knew that disrespect or misbehavior at school of any kind would bring immediate consequences at home, and they knew the discipline would be swift and firm.
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