Consequences for actions
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
consequences for actions
WHAT IS CONSEQUENCES FOR ACTION?
Consequences for actions is something every parent may need to take a course in. Many parents today do not believe in actions and consequences ,because they are too busy being their children’s friends not parents. I am a firm believer in consequences for actions; I think natural consequences bring the point more effectively. For example, my son forgot to bring his backpack home one day; and he had homework that needed to be completed. I informed him we all make mistakes and this one time we will go back to school to get the backpack. The next time he forgot his backpack, we do not go to retrieve it; and he received a zero on his assignment. My son never forgot to bring his backpack home again.
THE HELICOPTER PARENT!
Today, too many parents helicopter parent their kids. They do not allow them the room to make mistakes and learn through them. Many parents get too involved with school and question the actions of the teachers versus the actions of their own child. I see this all the time as a Behind the Wheel Instructor at the high school. Parents question why their child did not pass the bypass exam. After the exam, I sit down with each student and explain how they did and why they passed or failed. I still have to deal with parents questioning my decisions. One mother was upset because I failed her daughter for making a lane change unsafely; a car in front on her was braking and I had to put the brakes on. It was totally unsafe!
TAKING IT A STEP FURTHER!
Here is an amazing news story that was on Good Morning America about parents taking seriously consequences for actions. The parents got a phone call from the school informing them that their daughter was bullying another child. She was harassing another girl about her poor clothing choices and was making fun of her in front of others. These parents were horrified that their daughter would do such a thing; however, decided to take matter into their hands. The mother took her daughter shopping at a resale shop and had her pick out two ugly dresses. The daughter picked them out and the mother bought them. The next two days she made her daughter wear the dresses to school. The kids made fun of her, and she did not like it. The daughter said, “I am still the same person, so why would people make fun of me.” In this instance, the consequences for actions helped their daughter to realize how she treated another person poorly. By feeling how that other girl felt, she came to the conclusion how wrong it is to bully another person.
Today those two girls are friends and laugh about the past circumstances. It was a creative consequence for poor behavior. We all cannot be so creative, but we need to allow our children to learn from their mistakes. This makes them a better person. Consequences for actions should be a part of every parent-child relationship.
A POSITIVE CONSEQUENCE FOR THIS ACTION!