Turns out it was the owners, who had been upstairs while a Woodstock was taking place in the rest of the house. But rather than thank the officer for breaking up an underage bacchanal, they threatened a harassment charge, a vow they carried out the following week. Not my kid, they said. Not any of these kids. Yes, her kid Parenting is difficult work.
Accurate information is imperative if someone is going to do it well.
So is an accurate assessment system. While all parents should support, defend and protect their kids, shielding them from the consequences of their actions or turning a blind eye to their destructive behavior can be an unloving, even dangerous, act. Perhaps it's a symptom of a greater malady. Perhaps it's because excuses, loopholes and frivolous litigation are as American as divorce. Perhaps it's because our leaders have very public feet of clay.