939.45's purpose is to establish the statutory privilege that defendants may invoke when they have been charged with a crime. The defendant in this case is Zittlow. He is not in a position to invoke the parent-child privilege. Nevertheless, even though Wis. Stat. 939.45 does not provide a basis for the instruction, we conclude that instruction correctly states the law for an independent reason.
Parents have a fundamental liberty interest in the care, custody, and management of their children.
The lawful authority of a parent over a minor child includes the authority to control the child's life. That authority may be exercised by confining or restraining the child in a reasonable way. Parents certainly may ask others to assist them in directing their child's activities. If Zittlow's mother had stopped him from leaving home, her conduct would have been lawful. Similarly, she could direct Michelle to assist her.