Parents: There are no winners in the Shame Game

The Shame Game: An Internet Sensation

Starring the one you say you love the best: Your wanna- be thug son….or perhaps your puberty passionate daughter.

The plot is the same whoever plays the game: Child acts up and you show off on video and prove to the world you aren’t having no mess….not in your house. No way. You will give an old man’s hair cut…beat some ass with a cord, berate and announce new found sexuality….all for the internet fans!

 

The cast: You, the parent, must prove you are the star. Those likes and retweets give you life! The comments are like ratings and the more “go heads, I know that’s right” you get….the better you feel.

 

The co-stars …..you know the ones that did the deed….broke a rule…went off course, otherwise known as your child. They must show full remorse, head bowed, crying….oh now we are talking. Crying is proof of full embarrassment.

 

That rage and despondence and brokenness displayed….will the world ever know if that is remorse for a rule broken or calculation for "the get away" from the craziness the “star” is willing to go to for ratings.

 

The aftermath: This is the story that never makes the ‘net.  After the likes and the comments….maybe even an interview or 2….the co-star must go on living in whatever life brought them to the initial behavior in the 1^st place. Yeah, the behavior that got all of the attention. 

 

You don’t get 1 million likes on the drop-outs or the runaways. Hell, some man in another state that hit like is now soliciting the young girl through her new named page.  The bullying, it got worse. Now the kids have even more to come at your co –stars with. 

 

 And finally, the suicides: Those fans with all the comments and cheering of how you went off….they don’t miss work, or sit bedside, or answer the knock on the door from the police when the game is tragically over.

 

Raising children is hard. They do foolish things. They make us angry.  Instead of shame…shower them with praise, cloak them with love, surround them with support.  Be a star in the PARENTING game. This Shame Game…it’s fun while you’re playing. It can be deadly when it’s done. Real talk.