If Your Kids Aren't Scared of Disappointing You, Are You Even Parenting?

I hate to break it to you, but somebody needs to. If your kids aren’t scared of disappointing you, you’re not a an ideal parent — at best your kid(s) are most likely more afraid of upsetting their peers. You're to simply: set the standard, make them remember things and understand consequences. Instead, you’re out here treating your own kids like homies. You’re only guaranteeing the next generation of losers. "Parents” who prioritize their spouses, drugs or occupations over their offspring, I'm talking to you. You all are supposed to be motherly (and fatherly) until you pass away because the JOB of a parent is a lifetime commitment. You can chill if they turn out successful, if not: that's all on you. *See the afterward for a copy and paste text you can anonymously send to a neglectful parent within your reach.

Let’s rip the Band-Aid off right now—This country has solid programs for unruly teens. Group homes. Residential treatment centers. Structured environments that tackle the root causes of bad behavior while giving kids the tools to rebuild themselves. These programs aren’t some pipe dream—they exist, they work, and they’ve saved countless lives from spiraling into crime, addiction, or worse.

Newsflash: your kid didn’t just wake up one day deciding to act like a menace to society. That mess started at home—with YOU. Stop blaming “the streets,” stop blaming the music, stop blaming the teachers, stop blaming the system. Where the hell were you? Women make up the majority of single-parent households, that's common knowledge. You’re the guardian, the guide, the supposed adult who’s supposed to raise a human being into someone halfway functional. Instead, some of you are sitting back, half-asleep on the couch, scrolling TikTok while your kid is out here turning into a slacker. Let’s be real—some of y’all didn’t want to be mothers. You just didn’t want to get an abortion. You let guilt, religion, or that “maybe he’ll stay if I have his baby” delusion steer your entire life off a cliff.

Then on the other end of the disaster spectrum—those forcing conception like it’s a hobby. IVF warriors, fertility junkies, miracle-baby obsessives—stop clutching pearls. Some of you are just as guilty. You manufactured a human like a Build-A-Bear because you thought a baby would fill your void.

And fathers—don’t think you’re off the hook. You see your son sagging his pants, flashing money that clearly isn’t his, mouthing off to authority, or gotta promiscuous girl running around and you don’t intervene? That’s not parenting, that’s cowardice. Discipline your child, teach them respect, and if you can’t? Swallow your pride and get professional help.

Too many so-called “parents” are out here treating their bad-ass kids like they're untouchable; terrified of discipline, scared of what the neighbors might say, or—worse—using their kids as a walking welfare check. Yeah, I said it. They’ll watch their own child turn into a slouch, a bully, or a criminal-in-training and just shrug like, “Oh well, I tried.” GTFOH with that nonsense!

The Hard Truth:
There’s a Process. You don’t have to just sit there helpless while your kid sets fire to your household and future. Here’s how it works:

• A parent can file a PINS petition (Persons in Need of Supervision) in family court.

• This tells the system: “Yo, my kid needs help. I can’t do this alone.”

• The court then reviews and decides if the child needs supervision, a group home, or a treatment facility.

That’s not weakness. That’s not giving up. That’s called being realistic and owning your role as a parent.

Stop Playing the Role of “Bestie”

Let’s make something crystal clear: You are not your child’s friend.
They’re not your sidekick. You’re not their fanatic. You are their parent. That means it’s on you to step up, set boundaries, and, if necessary, throw in the towel on your DIY parenting and call in the professionals.

If your kid is out of control, admit it. If you’re scared of them, say it. If you can’t handle it, own up to it. But do something—because doing nothing only guarantees one thing: society will handle it for you later when your child becomes a statistic in the system.

Own the Defeat, Set Them Up for Success

Involving a 3rd party may be looked upon as an admission of failure, but sometimes admitting you’ve lost control is the bravest move you can make. Parents who initiate these programs aren’t weak—quite the opposite! They’ve accepted reality and decided to give their kid a fighting chance at turning their life around. That’s love. That’s responsibility. That’s parenting.