Leaders who DON'T: parents
by Miki SaxonParents are truly our first leaders, although the leading is more along the lines of ‘monkey see/monkey do’ as we copy their MAP (mindset, attitude, philosophy™) even as we’re shaping our own. A decade ago, we were treated to the mom in Texas convicted of hiring a hit man.
Ms. Holloway had served six months of a 10-year sentence after pleading no contest to solicitation of capital murder. She will be on probation for the next 9-1/2 years.
It hasn’t improved with time.
Priscilla Ceballos, admitted later Friday that the essay and the military information she provided about her daughter’s father were untrue.
“We did the essay and that’s what we did to win. We did whatever we could do to win,” Ceballos said in an interview Friday with KDFW-TV of Dallas. “But when (Caulfield) asked me if this essay is true, I said ‘No, this essay is not true.'”
I get the feeling that she thought it was OK as long as (a) they weren’t caught and (b) she admitted it right away when they were.
(I find it a bit weird that they’re both from Texas:) 
These days, more and more parents seem to be teaching their kids that winning is everything and if you don’t it’s probably not your fault.
What are you teaching your kids these days?
Your comments—priceless
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January 7th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Hey Miki! Great post. I have a huge burden and passion for parenting and parents. If you want to know how good a leader truly is, look at their home. Especially take a look at their kids.
I agree that many parents are teaching their kids that winning is the only thing and that if they lose they are somehow a victim. Maybe one of the most valuable lessons we can teach our kids is how to lose well and grow from the experience.
January 7th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Hey Casey and HNY! I think that your comment about leaders applies to everyone. Every time you see a young child or pet misbehaving you only have to look to the parents or owners for the reason. Leading change as kids get older, so parents need to act while they’ll still have a major impact.
You’re the Bible guy, Casey, but isn’t the adage along the lines of “as you sow, so shall you reap?” Not always true, but more, I think, than many parents want to admit.
January 7th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Let me see, use a spoon, chew food, shapes, colors, letters, numbers, discipline, self-esteem, how to fight back, think for yourself, listen to others. I must miss a few…
My father always says that parent is the only job for which there is no real school. And I would add it is fortunate. Like it or not it provides diversity in characters, strength and weaknesses.
To your point, and to stay biblical, it is either “as you sow, so shall you reap” or you become a sheperd. Meaning that either you tend to give your kids the same education you had or the opposite.
And a quick note on the ‘misbehavior’ as a parent you learn to ignore the looks of the people who think they know better. I used to be very judgemental of the behavior of others’ kids. I now realise that misbehaviors just need to happen for the child to make the difference between socially proper and improper.
Can’t wait to be old enough that I can be judgemental again ;)
January 8th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Aw, c’mon, Denis. We’re talking two different things here. At least to me, there’s a difference between helping your 6 yr. old to create an essay based on a whopper that her dad died in Iraq and and ‘misbehavior’, although when the the kid is trashing the waiting area of a restaurant by pulling the free newspapers out of the machine and throwing them around and the parents just sit there with an ‘isn’t my child adorable’ grin they deserve the looks.
No, there isn’t a school for parenthood and I agree that kids learn by making errors, but my point was that parents should set an example and making up a lie to win concert tickets or hiring a hit man to take out the competition’s mom isn’t setting a great example.
January 8th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I know Miki ;)
On the other hand that kid may become a decent salesman or CIA operative… :D
January 9th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Or President. But the post really meant to focus on the parents and the example they’re setting. You have to admit that if mom and/or dad think it’s OK to lie, cheat, steal and murder to win it’s likely to affect the kid.
September 27th, 2008 at 7:58 am
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