Sharing Saturday
Photo credit: Timothy K. Hamilton via Flickr
Ahhh, the Balloon Boy. A child that captured our imaginations and our hearts, and just as quickly, dashed them. A community rallied around his family, hoping to save him from what was considered to be imminent danger. Strangers and friends joined together, as the rest of the nation watched captivated and praying. For those of us with children, we were especially spellbound with thoughts centering around "what if this was our child? Could he (or she) actually do something like this?" Will the balloon boy be OK?
And then, a collective sigh, as he was seen safely, hiding in the garage.
This was a family’s fifteen minutes of fame. And it was capitalized on. Now these parents are faced with legal charges: conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and making a false statement to police.
As parents, we want what is best for our kids. Some believe that fame, or exposure, is the best thing. It can bring money, spotlight, an easier life, perhaps. Or it can bring criticism, public scrutiny, and mockery for that child. Possible separation from his parents is a distinct possibility depending upon the legal route that is taken. And yet I hope that this hoax was intended for publicity to advance the family in some way. Not that I condone the means taken.
So what happens when a parent's decision goes horribly wrong? I can promise that we'll all make mistakes along the way of raising our children. Perhaps who we let them play with (or don't). The food we give them, the places we take them, the schools that we send them to. We hope that we make the right choices. That we teach them good values. That we model for them the people we want them to be.
Yet mistakes get made. We say things in front of our children that they shouldn't hear. We fight with our spouse or partner before bedtime. They watch something beyond their understanding. All of these things are forgivable, and on the whole, won't make a long-lasting impression.
But sometimes the lesson we teach our children must be: "do as we say, not as we do." Value what we as a family hold dear, not what our culture covets. These can be tough distinctions. And this week, I don't have an easy answer. Most of the time, "good enough" is better than adequate and is all that it takes for healthy childhood outcomes.
It is the responsibililty of parents to know that it is illegal to file a local false police report or to notify a federal government agency of a false emergency. Ignorance of the law is not a legal defense.
Posted by: Stephanie | Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 09:02 AM