TWELVE RULES FOR RAISING DELINQUENT CHILDREN

The Houston, Texas police department used to distribute a little leaflet with the above title.  It was a satire on parents who don’t control their children.

            Let’s take a look at what the Houston police department finds are the causes of delinquent children. 

HERE THEY ARE:

1. GIVE THE CHILD EVERYTHING HE WANTS.  In this way, he will grow up to believe that the world owes him a living.
2. WHEN HE PICKS UP BAD WORDS, LAUGH AT HIM.  This will make him think he’s cute.  It will also encourage him to pick up cuter phrases that will blow off the top of your head later.
3. NEVER GIVE HIM ANY SPIRITUAL TRAINING.  Let him wait until he is 21 when he can “decide for himself.”
4. AVOID USING THE WORD “WRONG.”  It may develop in him a guilt complex.  This will condition him to believe later when he is arrested for stealing that society is against him and he is being persecuted.
5. DO EVERYTHING FOR HIM so that he will be experienced in throwing all responsibility on others.
6. LET HIM READ AND WATCH ANYTHING HE WANTS TO.  Be careful that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage.
7. QUARREL FREQUENTLY IN HIS PRESENCE.  In this way he will not be too shocked when his own home is broken up later.
8. GIVE A CHILD ALL THE SPENDING MONEY HE WANTS.  Never let him earn his own.  Why should he have things as tough as you had them?
9. SATISFY HIS EVERY CRAVING.  Denial my lead to harmful frustration.
10. TAKE HIS PART AGAINST NEIGHBORS, TEACHERS, AND POLICEMEN.  They are all just prejudiced against your child.
11. WHEN HE GETS INTO REAL TROUBLE, APOLOGIZE FOR YOURSELF by saying, “I never could do anything with him.”
12. PREPARE FOR A LIFE OF GRIEF,  You will be likely to have it.

                                                               --John Thiesen