re: What's your stance on disciplining kids that aren't yours?

quote:

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I was over at a neighbor's home, celebrating their birthday. One of my other neighbors has a 15 year old boy. I was talking about an important subject with someone, and the boy kept mocking me. I stopped and looked at him, and then I looked at his mother (as to say are you going to do anything about this?). All she did was laugh about it. After him doing it a few more times, I stopped and told him that if I had talked to an adult like he was doing, my parents would have slapped me in the mouth and beat my arse. His mom got pissed and took him and left. His father died a little over a year ago, and she lets him get away with a lot more than she should. For some reason, I feel convicted to be a male example for him and show him how to be a man.

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Only thing I disagree with was your choice of words. I wouldn't have mentioned what your parents would have done or based it on some kind of "respect for elders" deal. I would have just given it back to him.

I always thought it was a positive if another authority figure put my kids in their place if they were misbehaving when they were outside of my jurisdiction (I understand the mom was present, but still.)

If there's one lesson that EVERY PERSON IN THE WORLD must learn at some point, it's that you must be broken before some sort of authority at some point. Even Bill Gates pays taxes. If you never learn that lesson, then you are in for a long road.

I also wouldn't rush to defend a 15 year old if someone else was needlessly an a-hole to him/her. Another part of growing up is learning to deal with random assholes.

I'm sorry the kid's dad died, but I don't see that as relevant here.

Don't lose any sleep.