Curfew-Breaking Teen Sentenced to Hard Time - Babysitting for Free

I read the article. Did not see how badly she missed curfew. Was it just a few minutes or did she completely blow it and show up really late? I'd like to know just what the circumstances were behind her missing curfew and by how much she missed it.

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What a great idea. Kids today need to learn that there are consequences when you don't do the right thing.

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Would you let that irresponsible bitch take care of your kids ... NOT mine she wouldn't.

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I agree with William, "Do you want some ticked off teenager who doesn't want to be there, looking after your child?"

Breaking cerfew has been going on for ages. This isn't anything new. And breaking "cerfew" isn't criminal, unless you are out breaking into cars and houses.

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I just read this to my 15 yr. old daughter and she was horrified. She asked me if I would ever consider doing that to her, and I told her that I would not.

I do not believe in publicly humiliation as punishment. If she missed her curfew, it would depend on why and by how much. It would depend on if she called. She would certainly suffer the consequences if she violated it repeatedly or didn't notify me. If I was dealing with a habitual rulebreaker or kid with significant behavior problems, I can see going all out in trying to get her attention and reign her back in.

But it sure doesn't sound like that is the kind of girl we're talking about - she in Honor Society, and they are talking about the curfew being a Big Deal, rather than the girl being one who's missed it more than once.

I have a responsible kid who knows that I don't implement rules unless I have a good reason, and therefore she knows she better follow them.

I agree that kids shouldn't run the house. I agree that children should not be bribed to "be good." I also agree that consequences should fit the crime, but unless you believe that a missed curfew equates to an arrestable offense, I see no valid reason for publicly humiliating a kid by essentially putting her mugshot in the paper. Now even people who don't know her might see her out somewhere and snicker about the girl who got in trouble. People who might hire her for a summer job, etc. Overkill, big time.

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And no phone while she's babysitting either!

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Yeah real smart put her photo in the paper offering services. Are these parents stupid have they not heard of pedophiles. I would ground my 16 year old daughter. I would not post her pic and ad in a paper inviting trouble.

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The punishment was a creative one, but not necessarily a smart one. How about having her wash walls and windows, mow lawns, weed the garden at home, and -- yes -- baby sit for neighbors and friends if appropriate? It's too easy to get carried away with a creative solution without considering possible bleak consequences for the teenager.

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What an excellent idea.! As far as danger, I bet the parents took the girl too and from the job, and checked on her frequently. Anyway, As far as her opting to wash cars etc. People who are serious about teaching their children life's lessons don't give the kids a chance to opt for a choice of punishment. The parent makes the decision as these people did and the child don't want to push her luck for she knows the next punishment will be much worse, like clening publuc bathrooms. ( the court system does this sometimes)
I trained photographers for the Nations largest chain of Portrait studios for 37 years and believe me I saw some of the most unbelievable mean kids caused by having no discipline. I never got angry with the kids. I would loved to have slugged their parents though.

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couldn't she just scoop poop at the local animal shelter?

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Hah! I thought it a great idea! Nothing wrong with publishing a pic either! Once when my kids were younger I spotted 2 of them tossing there gum wrappers to the curb before coming inside. For the next 2 days I had them go out each evening and pick up any little papers off our street. (a 2 block distance) They learned there lesson and it didn't hurt them a bit!

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Reminds me of a movie i saw ages ago where a bed-wetting childs parents hung his soiled sheets on the balcony for all to see. I think these parents are a couple o a- holes for humiliating thier child like that in public. She's 16 she shouldve told them to go F-themselves

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Ya but you didnt post thier pic in the paper and humiliate them did u

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She is apparently a good girl from a good home with parents who care a great deal about their daughter. They want to bring her up to respect rules and regulations, something too many young people are not being taught these days. No one should be worrying their heads off about the attitude, etc....(bad parents with bad kids would not think to donate their child's services for anything much). In the older days, no one would have thought anything about it...Now everyone is too caught up with the CPS folks...the real live boggie man.

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If she had a party when her parents where in the house, then yeah come on over where there are no adults and live it up sister. I know all about these Southlake people they are all the same the rules do not apply to them. She is 16 and had a party right under their nose and on the news they were yuck it up like it was another day. Give me a break.

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Do you people really think for one second this girls parents would have her do this if they thought she would be a danger to the kids? I mean come on.... the girls parents know she would be good natured about her sentence BEFORE they put the ad in the paper. And they protect her by screening all the replies to the ad. Its not like they posted her on craigs list, they put her in the locl paper. This ad servces another purpose to... ALL her friends saw it as well as their parents. They do not want the same public punishment she got, so they are being better behaved. I say to these parents... RIGHT ON!!! its about time a parent finds a fitting punishement to the crime and are trying to take contoll of their teens.

And to the TX and CA people talking about cps and no money... EVERY state is this way. I live in WA and we can not use physical punishment as it is abuse. we hardly have the money to care for our kids to. And its not because we cant get it, its because our nation is to busy feeding other nations kids. I am not against world charity but I say fix it at home fisrt.

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I think that community or neighborhood service can be an effective way to teach teens to be less selfish. I do believe that kids need to understand that there are consequences for their actions, but 30 hours was too much. Was she 30 hours late coming home???? What really bothers me, is that they posted her picture in the ad. Who did they think would answer the ad?

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These parents are nuts. The liability they placed on themselves if one of the kids being sat by their daughter gets hurt, could be devestating. Can't trust her to come home on time, why would you trust her to babbysit properly?

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They need to punish her without placing someone else in danger, like children. I'm sure they could be more constructive about doing so. Taking her transportation away, cell phone, or other "necessities". Requiring her to do more chores at home.

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1st of all...great idea! Second of all...Southlake is a small town of very affluent households (top 5 per capita in the country). I'm pretty sure that screening wasn't that hard to do, because it was mostly neighbors, friends, friends of friends, etc etc. If the person calling doesn't live in Southlake they are probaly not approved. Finally, for her picture in the newspaper...it is nothing worse than a student athlete of the weeks' pic in the town paper, etc etc.

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