I can't believe the police got involved in this. I would definitely lock my kid out if he was repeatedly breaking curfew. As it is, the porch is where I send the boys when they've committed a serious transgression.

Same here. I'm one of those parents that get ridiculed for using positive discipline. I also use natural/logical conseequences and time outs. My oldest is 13 and has already slept on the screen porch once. I did toss his camping gear out to him and I did let him back in the next morning - which I believe the mother should have done. That's the only problem I have with what the mother did.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom used to do this. She'd wake up and let us is, but she'd be pissed as hell.

But you kept doing it, so it did not really stop you, then?

Because mom let them back in.

If she had made them stay out until 6:00 AM bet they would have stopped.

Why are the police involved in this?

Exactly. What a bunch of pussy kids we are raising. And if they don't like something, cry to the police about abuse.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom used to do this. She'd wake up and let us is, but she'd be pissed as hell.

But you kept doing it, so it did not really stop you, then?

Because mom let them back in.

If she had made them stay out until 6:00 AM bet they would have stopped.

Why are the police involved in this?

Exactly. What a bunch of pussy kids we are raising. And if they don't like something, cry to the police about abuse.

Anonymous wrote:Why doesn't a 13 yr old have keys to their own home?

and even with a key--we have a dead bolt that locks from the inside that they don't have a key to.

I can't believe the police got involved in this. I would definitely lock my kid out if he was repeatedly breaking curfew. As it is, the porch is where I send the boys when they've committed a serious transgression.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

While I think the mom was fine in her actions, there is no way you can equate your 6 year old loving to sleep outside in presumably a tent and/or sleeping bag when is was preplanned with his consent, to this kid being locked out. Clearly he didn't want to spend an evening outside!

Of course he didn't WANT to. Of course it was uncomfortable and probably miserable. That was sort of the whole point of the mom's actions. But how was it UNSAFE.

Uh - stop yelling. I agreed with you. I was replying to the mother who said her 6 year old LOVES to sleep outside. I was saying that this kid didn't want to sleep outside...but as I began my prior response...I think the mother was fine with what she did!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 16 my mom locked me out at 10am until I got myself a job. It worked. I came home with a summer job.

16 is different from 13, day time is different from night time.

I get it, but I think kids need to have the law laid down upon them. Before they get into trouble with people other than their parents (police, employers, etc).

13 yo sleeping in the yard sounds like a natural consequence to me. I am surprised they arrested the mother. Georgia is a crazy place.

If a kid can't abide by a curfew, don't let him go out.

Anonymous wrote:Why doesn't a 13 yr old have keys to their own home?

Because some parents want to know when their children get home and be able to ask immediately where they were. And those kids typically don't need a key, anyway.

I have no issue with her locking the door at curfew for habitual lateness. I do have issues with the older brother providing pillow and blanket for the teen to sleep on the patio. And I certainly have an issue with the mom not letting the kid inside in the morning. Removing the teens to their grandmother's house while mom is investigated is preferable to putting the kids in foster care, so I'm glad the grandmother was available and willing. Mom was arrested, her version of what happened doesn't mesh with what the 13 year old said, my question is what the neighbors and 16 year old said.

Why doesn't a 13 yr old have keys to their own home?

Anonymous wrote:

While I think the mom was fine in her actions, there is no way you can equate your 6 year old loving to sleep outside in presumably a tent and/or sleeping bag when is was preplanned with his consent, to this kid being locked out. Clearly he didn't want to spend an evening outside!

Of course he didn't WANT to. Of course it was uncomfortable and probably miserable. That was sort of the whole point of the mom's actions. But how was it UNSAFE.

That is not neglect.

For a teenager, having to spend the night on the patio is a natural consequence

For once, I laud the natural consequence parenting philosophy!

Anonymous wrote:At 16 my mom locked me out at 10am until I got myself a job. It worked. I came home with a summer job.

16 is different from 13, day time is different from night time.