Archive - January, 2010

Parents vs. Peers on Facebook

Posted in: Parenting
January 20, 2010 with 4 Comments

I didn’t think I would like this; it smacked of disrespect, but I love the Parent VS Peer discussion on the newly formed Facebook page, 1000 to get tess ungrounded.  Tess, you see, is a New England 15-year-old, grounded for 5 weeks for drinking at a party, missing her curfew, and getting caught by her parents.

Tess is not happy and is lobbying on Facebook hoping to pressure her parents into offering parole.  Her parents are calmly holding their ground according to this NY Times interview, as they should.  Let us not forget what the sentence might have been had she been caught by the police and not her parents. 

What I love about the whole situation is that thousands (yes Tess surpassed her goal of 1,000) of teens, young adults, and parents are weighing in on the issue.  As I write this blog some of the comments are surprisingly wise… and some were just funny.  Here are a few…

“So, I’m 19, and although I may be an adult by law, I’m not that much older than Tess… Sweetie, be happy that all you got is 5 weeks, with access to a computer. It’s not your childhood that’s going away, it’s only 5 weeks! Many of the adults here are telling you to use the time wisely and to…”

“I’m so glad you missed curfew due to track of time rather than someone (at the party or on the way home) took advantage b/c you were drunk and easy to exploit. I am so glad you didn’t need plan B and/or a rape kit. I am also glad you weren’t caught and cited by the police for being drunk and under age…”

“Kids drink to get drunk…..Parents that know Tess should take this opportunity to talk to their own children because it’s very likely they are doing that same thing only not getting caught…..WAKE UP Parents before it’s too late. TESS should be charged with underage drinking by the Police….grounding isn’t enough…”

“I have just contacted Amnesty International and they are demanding the immediate release of all Political Prisoners in the Chapin Residence. We have reason to believe there is more than one, Tess Chapin herself and her Dog … Fluffy.”

So, what’s your take?  Did Tess get off too easy, or should her parents ease up?