I'm not sure what I'd do if I had a child that unruley. Dad is not beating the kid; he's not starving her; he's not making her sleep outside---nobody's business.

When my kid was a toddler, she broke away from me in a food store parking lot and kept running when I told her to stop. She got spanked in public (two or three good slaps on the bottom) and howled like being tortured. Got some ugly looks. But she never did it again.

I'm afraid that kid is going to do what she wants-no matter what her dad makes her do. She may grow up to be a fine,upstanding citizen, she may not. I can understand his frustration, just not sure there is anything he can do to stop her behavior.

Good for him and good ideal. Maybe public humiliation will set this kid straight after all her friends see it.

 No it's not a good idea. There are so many things kids hold against their parents. This girl is never going to forget this or accept it in a good way. jmo

mtndewrob, your avitar is very ugly. I'm positive if a guy posted two females kissing he would be shot down by the blog police. How is this getting by? YUCK! Gross!

Tchud-LOL at your second paragraph...girl call it like you see it, ugly!!! (and I agree, distasteful)

tchud - I disagree.. hell, I wish my parents had punished me like that - it could have saved me from a number of stupid mistakes down the road if I had been humbled a bit like this girl.

Is my avitar pornography? why would the blog police care? Nobody is being hurt by it.. I wouldn't mind if somebody had a avitar of 2 girls kissing. How do you know it's 2 guys kissing?

Wow, this is shocking.  I do not think his punishment is appropriate, at all!  He is her father for the rest of their natural life and I think he over-stepped the boundaries as far as parenting goes.  She will never forgive him for this...I know I wouldn't.  It's a no wonder she lies, she already knows what a jerk he can be, and he's proven it by punishing her in a public manner.  I do not condone anyone that lies, but there are definitely better ways to parent...such as not allowing your child to be put in a position to lie.  If you allow them the freedom they want, they will do whatever they want & then lie to you...so don't allow them to go beyond the boundaries...which should be very strict.  No parent is exempt from their children telling lies...deal with the small ones before they become huge.  

FSG, I'm shocked by your response.  I'm wondering if you're a parent?!!  Sometimes parents make the wrong choices and I'm betting he'll regret this not so appropriate punishment..if not already, then down the line.  This is why I never punished my children when angry...otherwise they would still be on restriction :)      

If those are not guy's they are sure homely women!

My mother punished me publicly once, and I never forgot it, and it had a huge positive impact on me.  When I was about 6 or 7 I called my best friend "fat."  We had gotten in a huge fight and that was the meanest thing I could think of to say.  My mom dragged me over to my friend to apologize, but I was furious and refused.  I was crying and carrying on, and soon all the neighbor kids (and some of their parents) were standing around watching, and my best friend was standing there with a satisfied grin, and I was having a fit.  Finally I apologized (and hated my friend for a while after that.)  Maybe my mom shouldn't have interfered, but I'm glad she did.  She took me home and told me that we DO NOT say the meanest thing we can think of to the people we care about.

This event is still very vivid in my memory all these years later, and it taught me two very valuable lessons that have prevented a lot of potential problems in my life:

1.  You DO NOT say the meanest thing you can think of to people you care about. 

2.  Mom is the BOSS!  Mom can and will make you do things you don't like, so get over it.

I applaud this father, but I think that if he has enough control over his daughter to get her to stand on a street corner with a sign for two hours, his problems aren't as bad as he thinks.

Being 6 or 7 and having this happen is totally different then being a teen.  We all learned hard lessons growing up ... but get real here, if your mom did this when you were a teenager & have you stand on a street corner with a sign...I'm wondering if you'd still be singing praises. 

Maybe you're right, Blossom, but then I wouldn't know about such things.  I was already pretty well straightened out by the time I was a teenager.  I would never have dreamed of stealing from my neighbors. 

Frankly, I don't really care about this girl at all.  Better Dad nips her bad behavior in the bud now so she doesn't end up stealing from ME one day.  Also, the man get bonus points for not dragging law enforcement into this to settle his problems. 

Two things...

One.... I think Ellisbelle is right.  If that girl is that disobedient she isn't about to stand there with that sign on without throwing a fit.  Chances are she's relishing the attention.  How cool is it to be on TV with all your frinds agreeing that your dad is an idiot? 

Two.....I'm not overly fond of seeing pictures of ANYONE making out and don't try to tell me that's just a casual kiss.  The avatar is inappropriate.

Dad could take the kid to juvenile hall and say she's incorrigible. Would that straighten her out?

I agree about the picture, Nancy.  I've always said I don't care what people do in their bedrooms as long as they keep it in their bedrooms.  I've seen people soul kissing like that in restaurants and it's enough to make me lose my lunch.  Teenagers are the worst for that. 

I was told by an atty for the county (childrens advocate) that it's not that easy.  You can't just drop your kids off at juvie as courts and CPS will get involved and you may lose parental rights.  Or get them into foster care at the least.

Personally, I think a "scared straight" program is a good idea.

Juvenile Hall should be a last resort.  I know there are some really impossible kids out there, but I still think having CPS, law enforcement, juvenile hall, etc handle your problems is pretty much admitting failure, and unfair to taxpayers.

I once again disagree...I do believe in getting your kiddos attention with punishment, but definitely not with embarrassment by punishment.  I don't care how disobedient your child is..you don't display your families problems in front of the world to see.  If I handed out that kind of punishment, I'd be hiding in my house out of embarrassment for myself.  This is a sad case of a parent being overly zealous in their punishment.  

Curious, what did she do that warranted this kind of punishment ... and what has she done in the past?   

Bloss: According to local tv news, she stole money, she stole a neighbor's property, her school grades have tumbled from A's to F's, she is disobediant and disrespectful to her parents. This according to interview with Dad. The girl's face was not shown nor was she interviewed.

She sounds like material for therapy. Burned out from meeting expectations? Depression? Feeling stifled from being controled? All of these? None of these? Who knows. Maybe she wants to be punished, "throwing herself away." It all sounds more complicated than a child being rebellious.

This is absolutely appropriate punishment....assuming Dad accepts his share and stands next to her holding a sign saying "I raised her."

Thanks Cat for your courteous response .. I'm out of the loop as far as the local news.  It truly is a shame that she's so self-destructive.  I hope she gets the help she needs.  Putting her on a street corner is not the answer.  I'm in total agreement that she needs some sort of therapy...and fast!  Sounds like her dad should be in it as well...if nothing else but to help his daughter.   

JDub, you've got that right! 

BOOT CAMP!

The sooner the better.

I think the punishment is a bit Draconian.  I know the dad is at the end of his rope, but is this really the best way to get through to a child? He mentions stripping her of her clothes, foods, and possessions.  And, he also mentions that this is a recent development.  My question would be: what happened between being a straight A student and an F student who lies and steals?  Has the father made sure that she was not the victim of abuse (physical, sexual, mental)?  What precipitated the change in her behavior?  I think it's rash and dangerous to put your child on the corner of a very busy intersection with a sandwich board pronouncing her flaws.  Any weirdo could've approached her.  Knowing that she's now been publicly humiliated and has issues with her parents, she's now vulnerable to people with less noble goals.  All the research available on the subject tells us that child predators look for children who seem to be having issues at home.  For one, they do it because the parent is probably going to be skeptical of any claim made by a child who's been publicly outed for being a liar.  Second, she's been publicly humiliated by someone who is supposed to have her best interest in mind and may be more willing to do something equally lacking in judgement as retribution to her father.  Was there really no other option?  13 is not 17. 

many people forget..parents are not to be friends with their kids.....they are to guide them into adulthood, self-sufficiency.

maybe she needed to be spanked over 10 yrs ago

I would side with a parent who is punishing bad behavior. He's trying to establish control and prepare her for adult life. Lying and cheating in the adult world will get you embarrassed publicly, also (i.e. police reports, news, this blog, etc.). 

My son had just turned 16 in July of 1978  We received a phone call from the skating rink on Oak  not sure if it's still there

The Management said they believed he had been drinking     We lived off Ming @ that time and I was there within 7 minutes   they had him in a room with two security guys     we talked for a couple of minutes and I told them I would handle it

When we left I took him straight to the BPD on Truxtun      The Officer on duty was told what he did and I ask if they would talk to him    In a room behind the desk he was there for a few minutes   when they came out my son looked like he was convinced  Drinking @ that age was trouble    

I don't believe he ever drink again till after his 21st B/D

 Great Idea...Kids are very out of control these days....and embarrassment just might work..

Ellis Bell

It sounds like you have a mom who cared enough about how you would turn out to take the effort to straighten you out on the spot. 

Awesome for dad! Now he has to back it up with consistency. The girl should be stuck in her room all with nothing to play with, etc. Just a stack of books to keep her company. 

Children most definitely need punishment, I knew I grew up in a house with absolutely no parental rules, and that is no way to live. I turned out extremely unruly, undisciplined and very disrespectful. Not just to my parents but to everyone else.

Personally I think this punishment is just too extreme, its downright humiliation. Standing on a busy intersection for HOURS?

If the daughter has issues that aren't being addressed; if there's some problem in her family that is being ignored, it will just cause further damage to her state. (Whatever is going on with the parents, if she's in an unstable home) then it will cause things to get worse. Punishment if and when necessary, but love and encouragement too. I hope the father talked to the daughter afterwards and explained he loves her. Children need that too, most importantly from their parents.

There's no indication that the parent(s) sought counseling or professional psychological help for the child.

Certainly, there are other more appropriate means of approaching these sorts of family issues privately without first resorting to punitive measures including highly inappropriate public Scarlett Letter-type humiliation of the child.

On another note, publicly airing personal family issues in the streets shows a lack of class, at best.

And the father made her eat certain things for a week?

What's that all about?

There are signs of serious family dysfunction evident in this story, which are not necessarily the making of the child.

The child's sociopathic behavior strongly suggests that she is suffering from psychological problems which are left untreated.

What kind of parenting is that?

It appears parenting instruction for the child's ignorant father is in order, as well.

The basic issue is quite clear.

If a child has a physical ailment, you seek medical advice and/or treatment by consulting the appropriate physician.

If a child has a psychological problem you seek medical advice and treatment by consulting the appropriate doctor/specialist/therapist.

Geez, how dumb can people be?

The father's at his "wit's end?"

What's more important here, the father's condition or the child's?

Get her to a doctor, schmuck.

Stop whining about your own frustration at your inability to help the kid with your ignorant methods and get the kid properly treated by professionals who know how to deal with these sorts of psychological issues.

This father has the intelligence of a bag of rocks.

I say "Hooray" for the dad.  This is the first parent I have seen in a long time who is actually being a parent and being involved.  The majority of parents have their head in the sand when it comes to their children.  When their children get in trouble all you hear is, "Not my child".  Most parents these days expect the schools and/or the police to raise or discipline their children.  Parents these days are not taking the responsibility to raise their kids themselves.  This is a dad who cares and who is trying.  That is awesome!!

You know people can be very judgmental when you are on the out side looking in. I sought professional help and was told that's you're problem you deal with it that old saying squeaky wheel gets the oil I have walked in this Dad shoe I total know what he is going through believe you me i stand behind him all the way do what you have to do that is his child he is the one that is responsible for taking care of her that's whats wrong with the world to day if you seek out help you are a bad parent if don't seek help then if you do they will tell you can't you deal with you're child . Dad do whats best for you and you're child because when the dust Seattle you and only you will be responsible for you're child until a certain age God bless you Dad...

Wow. Talk about rambling.

Queen3: "The majority of parents" is a bold and ignorant statement to make. I don't know what kind of parents you are around but I can tell you that I discipline my child; that is MY job, no one else's.

And I agree that the father was wrong. His daughter will not grow up thanking him for this. You just don't humiliate a child like that.

Take her for counseling? How idiotic! She lied and stole. A LOT of kids do that a few times. Usually they stop when punished.

I applaud the dad, but again, he needs to follow up with consistency. And I do think that the girl will thank him some day if this turns her around.

Witbee: counseling might reveal WHY she is lying and stealing.  Those are two bad habits no one should carry into adulthood.  A lot of kids might nab a candy from the bin, but they don't take their neighbors' belongings.  Big difference.

Children get over punishment, but not humiliation. I still remember and resent humiliating things my parents did, and I resolved not to ever put my kids through that. Kids, especially early teens, have enough to deal with just trying to survive adolescence. Obviously this poor kid has hit a snag somewhere in her life; it seems that the only way her parents are dealing with it is through control and humiliation, a double strike to my way of thinking. I agree that she needs help and love, not more hits to her self-worth. 

Let's just give everyone counselling then. The buck stops with the dad since he's responsible for her. Let him do what he feels is appropriate (and legal).

Queen3, the father's heroic "involvement" could include driving the kid to the doctor's office rather than sticking her out on the street like Hesther Prynne for public scorn.

Bettyjstallion, your personal distaste for professionals notwithstanding, your assertion that the father is right in not seeking professional help for his daughter doesn't hold water. If the kid had a physical ailment, would it also be wonderfully noble of him to deny proper treatment? The child's psychological ailment certainly calls for professional intervention, especially in light of the father's own admission that he has been unsuccessful using his ignorant parental methods including public humiliation.

Wake up, there's obviously much, much more to this story than meets the casual eye.

Judging from the father's absurdly bizarre behavior, it may be likely that there's something really wrong in this family. And it's a good bet that the dysfunction is rooted in the parent(s) behavior.

Incidentally, is there a mother?

If so, where does she stand? 

Are there siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts or others who might have something to say about all this stupid parenting?

But again, dragging the kid out onto the street for public humiliation rather than to a doctor for professional help is not in any way indicative of good, thoughtful, intelligent parenting.

This idiot father ought to be dragged to the same street corner for a day with a sign around his neck saying 'I am a jerk of a father who won't take my kid to the doctor."

Counseling is just not the solution to everything.   I think this may have done this kid some good.  Again, good for you dad!!!

Jfrancais, the idiot father did what he thought appropriate.

It wasn't. It isn't.

Yes, counseling or other medical or psychological treatment for the child would be appropriate.

What he did to the child is tantamount to no less than psychological abuse. It in no way passes for proper treatment of the child's problem.

Every child can't be saved by counselling or medical/pschological treatment. Maybe that is already being attempted (who knows). Maybe the child needed hits to her "self-worth" if it's valued in stealing and lying. The father is active in rearing his child trying to give negative consequences to bad behaviors. You can't be a child's buddy all the time. Society has to eventually like them, too.

Thumbs up, ghostriter.  That was a very sensitive and thoughtful response.  I hope she gets the help and love she needs.

I would have rather done that then get the butt whoopings I got. At the same time though, I have never been arrested, committed a crime other than traffic violations. I say bring back the butt whoopings.

 Show em what it's like behind bars, allow them to take a tour inside. Take em for a visit at the Morgue, not much life in that place, just maybe they'll get the hint. Take em to see the good life of being a bum, try a park like the one on California East of Union where you turn for the Union Cemetery.  While you're there, take em for a walk in the Cemetery and ask em what spot they like, may be needing it if they don't straighten out.

Thanks, baby. I think I must have done something right; I have two in college (one working on her master's), and doing well. My other kids are all terrific, even though they are teens or nearly teens, the youngest being 10. They are all confident, independent people who I am immensely proud of...can you tell? I doubt my kids would be the great people they are if they had been subjected to the type of spirit-breaking humiliation that is being discussed here. Discipline is one thing, and it is absolutely necessary. But there are other ways than this.