Mom's Not As Dumb As You Think!

During the period of time I was going through my senior year of college, the kids were in their teens. As most parents will agree these are the most difficult years for us all. I didn't always choose the right disciplinary measures, but I tried to be the best parent I could. I read my Bible and took to heart God's words for parenting. Here's some examples:

Courtney was running with the wrong crowd and ended up helping a friend run away from home. The night she did this, I had been working at the Boys and Girls club. I first heard about this girl disappearance when I was bombarded at the door of my house by the police. They asked, "Are you harboring a runaway?" My answer was a firm "NO!" They asked to search my house and of course I granted them permission. I was a little upset that they didn't believe me, but quickly got over it.

Then my psychology education kicked in and I began observing Courtney. I started seeing a pattern: she got up earlier than usual; went to another friends house whom I wasn't fond of and stayed there until it was time for school; as soon as school was over she'd head right back to that house, staying there as late as she could (I had to call her and demand she come home). After a week of this behavior I knew what was going on and where her missing friend was at. I had the police come over early one morning, I woke her up and said, "I know where Sally (not real name) is. Now you have a choice. Either you take these officers there or I do." My daughter immediately complied and took them to Sally. This sent a two fold message of: Mom's not as dumb as you think; plus, her friends saw her as a Narc and dropped her like a hot potato. Yeah!

Ace had his problems also. He had many run-ins with the police, almost on a weekly basis. He ended up in lock-up many times. Of course I was worried. I thought his dad needed to step in, so I allowed Ace to move in with dad and he visited me once in a while. One day I got a call from the police asking, "Do you know where Ace is? He's disappeared with his grandfather's truck and his girlfriend." Again my answer was a firm, "NO!"

The police and Ace's dad were stumped. I knew I had to do something, so I started calling everyone of Ace's friends. I found his trail (Me, the disabled women in a wheelchair) all the way across the United States to Georgia. I found out the phone number of the house he was at, called it and told him, "Keep your happy little butt at that address!" Then I called the Georgia police and said, "Please go pick up my son and hold him until I can figure out how to get him back to Utah. He has committed grand-theft-auto and is involved in kidnapping his girlfriend." They did and a week later I sent his dad to pick him up...

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Proverbs 13:24

I am blessed

Merrym Dawn Mathis Bruce