Parenthood . . . should be earned

There have been a few tales in what is allegedly the media lately that call out for some comment on my part. Of course they don't really but if I keep all of this inside I may have a stroke. What is the sense in me going to the gym and dropping 50 pounds if I have a stroke because some idiot feels the need to compete with Joe Jackson in the worst parent category.

Sadly there are lots of stupid parents out there. These folks seem to forget that a child is not a toy to be used in some sort of emotional tug of war - some folks seem to think of parenting as a right and go about it with as much thought as they would popping into the local 7-11 for a Big Gulp and corn dog.

There is even a site on the web - parentsbehavingbadly.com out there for one's peverse pleasure. Frankly the stories there just made me sad. I get even more worried when I think that these messed up kids will  procreate themselves and wreak even more havoc upon our society. 

I blame this trend for the rise of 'reality' TV and the popularity of Danielle Steele. 

Dear lord - if it is this bad now just think of the exponential increase in the horror.

For once I hope the Mayans were right and the world will cease to exist on December 21, 2012 because I can't stand much more of this.

What has set off this woe?

It started a few weeks ago when that paragon of motherhood 'Octomom' reappeared in the news. No. She isn't preggers again, instead she found a producer so thick that they signed agreements for each of her 14 children to earn $250 a day to star in a reality television show.

The contracts filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court guarantee the children will collectively earn about $250,000 over three years. The contracts require a judge's approval.

Dear lord - 14 X $ 250,000 is a lot of plastic surgery and buffets at Sizzler.

It drives me nuts the way 'we' exploit people who in many cases are unable to make their own decisions.

Happily the courts have appointed a guardian to care for the money the children earned (although 'mom of the year' will likely need $ 20,000 a month for household expenses).

Then there is a wee Canadian story that is making the news here this week. I will spell it out because my American friends likely haven'y heard anything from the icy north for awhile.

Apparently a guy in Quebec let his 7 year old son drive the family van down a country road.  He sat in the passenger seat and video taped this. Mom sat in the back with nine year old brother and baby sister on her lap. Of course no one was wearing seatbelts.

Then the moronic parent posted the video on YouTube.

Dear lord. It is one thing to be a bad parent, it is quite another to share your parental shortcomings with the world via the internet.

In the video, the boy sits on the edge of the driver's seat, looking relaxed but alert as he grips the steering wheel and drives the vehicle.

Dad cheerfully notes as the speed approaches 40 km/h that "it's a little fast."

Observing that his son is calmly chewing gum as he drives, the father tells him to "smile for the camera," although the boy's mother,  apparently tells the father not to distract the boy.

At one point the father says his son has hit 70 km/h. But the man insisted on Tuesday that he was just joking when he made that comment and that the vehicle never went over 40 km/h.

The police have opened up an investigation.

Dear lord - someone invent a 'stupid parent test' and require all adults to take it prior to their EVER having sex. Those who fail it should not be allowed to breed . . . how tragic is it that there are so many people who want kids, would be brilliant parents, and are unable to have them, yet morons like octomom and 'man who videos son breaking the law and stupidly posts it on YouTube' are able to breed at a faster pace than the rabbits who live in my garden.

The world is out of wack.

Of course this too is Stephen Harper's fault!

Comments

[Laura]

Let's hope Octomom manages to sock away some of that money. God knows she's going to need it to pay for her kids' psychiatric care down the road.

[Rose]

i was waiting for this.....

[sandrac]

Like Rose, I've been waiting for this, too -- and am fully prepared to blame Stephen Harper for the moral breakdown of our society!

And if the world is ending in December 2012, why the hell am I still putting money in my pension. Someone should have told me about this.

[sheri]

As the wife of a Philadelphia School Teacher, I couldn't agree with you more.DH comes home with stories every day that make my blood boil!

[Anne]

Well duh, isn't everything Stephen Harper's fault??! ;)

[Brad'll Do It]

One of the miracles of today's society is the ability of our mass media to find stories like this to specifically irritate you, Jerry. Are these folks really deserving of ANY of your energy? I'm with sandrac, if the world's gonna end in three and-a-half years, I may need to change my lifestyle.

[kendall]

1.) the world will not end 12/21/12. the great cycle will start over. Sorry.
2.) most people should not be allowed to breed.I am including my self in this, as some gene poolls should die out.
3.) Steven Harper is not to blame for everything. 50% belongs to Dubya.

[Jerry]

Imagine the costs of that therapy laura - it boggles the mind!

Don't read more into this that a tale of octomom and stupid Quebec father Rose! LOL

I think the blame must rest with Harper - bush is gone - we need a 'live' target now.

Sheri - i can only imagine. I can't believe the crap with which teachers must cope on a daily basis.

Brad - sadly there are stories daily that could set off a rant. Clearly I need a life or meds (or both! *smile*). I think that I'd like the days when news was delivered once a week before a movie on a Saturday afternoon.

[girasoli]

I can also attest to the stupidity of so many parents. As a teacher, I am constantly shaking my head wondering just where these parents learn their parenting. I can see blaming reality tv shows but Danielle Steele? :)

[JDeQ]

Well girasoli - I ahve to blame her popularity on something. This seemed to be somewhat of a fit! *smile*