Laptop Target Practice

Yeah, I saw the video and read the story about the North Carolina dad who blasted his daughter's laptop to smithereens.  Yeah, I also admit to chuckling about it too.

Story here.

Folks have been all over this this story, and most of the comments I have heard are positive.  Dad is being a parent and not a friend.  Did he go too far?  Not in my book.

A few weeks ago, my youngest two kids were having a terrible time listening when getting ready for school.  It seems like their new Christmas toys were much more satisfying to play with than getting their shoes on, packing their backpacks, and getting all their other stuff together before leaving.  Even verbal prompting from parents had absolutely no effect on them.  "Cranky the Crane" (from Thomas and Friends) and Woody (from Toy Story) were much more fun to deal with.

So, Dad took action.  After the six or seventh failure to listen, Daddy marched into the living room and announced in no uncertain terms, "Since you can't and won't listen to Mom and Dad, Cranky and Woody are going to the trash!"

Weeping and gnashing of teeth ensued.

Two little children followed their Daddy to the trash can screaming, "No, Daddy no!" the entire way.  They watched as I placed Cranky beside the trash and Woody inside the can.  Then, I herded them back to the living room.

Weeping and gnashing of teeth did not abate.  They continued throughout the morning as the kids finally prepared for school.

Did we end up throwing the toys away?  No.  Not quite.  We informed the children they could earn their toys back, which they did.  But have I had a problem with kids playing with toys instead of getting ready for school again?  Have they failed to listen to me when I have told them to get their shoes on?

Nope.

Point made. 

Am I prepared to do it again, this time to follow all the way through?  Yep.  You bet.

Some may decry the destruction of material things that hard earned money was spent on, but there is a principle that is more important: until a kid is on his or her own, Mom and Dad's rules are to be followed, and sometimes object lessons are more powerful even if they cost a little bit of money.  (Jesus' teaching on the worthlessness of possessions really helps one follow through with such things, BTW.)

I'm hoping such lessons at an early age will prevent such measures as they get older, but who knows?  Kids always push their parents' boundaries, and parents have to back up those boundaries.  Even if it means using a laptop for target practice.

(p.s. Dave, if you read this one, I remembered very well the story you told about your dad and the comb.)