With almost 2 million YouTube views in three days, this video has definitely struck a nerve with parents everywhere.
(To get the full effect of his extreme measures, you have to watch to the shocking end.)
There won’t be any gray area; you are either going to love or hate his parenting tactics.
Has dad gone too far, or not far enough? What would you do if your kid posted this message for the world to see? How would your parents have reacted if they knew you even felt this way when you were 15?
I’ll be eager to read your comments. (And don’t worry, regardless of where you stand on this issue, your laptop isn’t in jeopardy. I’m not packing.)
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As a parent of someday-to-be teens I am 100% with this guy on all points, and against his method at the same time. What he said is in every way absolutely true, even the destruction of the laptop was necessary. What I don’t totally agree with is posting it to anyone else, but should have only been to the daughter. I know she overstepped bounds by posting about the parents for the world to see, and he is saving face, but had it been me, and I could keep my emotions together, I would have posted back that she needs to watch a video and then do a private link. I fear this public humiliation will perhaps drive this daughter to an irreconcilable place with her parents, although in private it is totally necessary.
Eric,
I think Dad made his point with his rant on her Facebook page. But, I think he crossed the line when he shot up her laptop. I think he could have made his point by taking it away from her, making her remove the statement and having her apologize on her Facebook account. He could have done a number of things short of shooting up her computer. She may have had some important schoolwork on it he needlessly destroyed.
He certainly didn’t set a very good example by his own behavior. One more thing struck me while watching his video: what kind of a parent was he to allow his daughter to get to the stage of disrespect she was at as she grew up? That kind of entitlement doesn’t just happen overnight.
But that’s just my opinion.
Later,
Mike
I’ve been exposed to so many good, hard working, responsible teenagers that I truly believe the Hannah’s of the teen world are the exception rather then the rule.
Having said that I think blowing Hannah’s computer away was about the funniest damn thing I ever saw – in or out of the area of parental discipline. I’m looking forward to episode 2 when he woodchips her iPod.
I can’t stop chuckling.
Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about my son posting something like this to his Facebook page. He is kind, respectful, considerate, and grateful to both his father and me. We feel very fortunate to have raised a son with exceptional values and work ethic.
Unfortuately, this man’s daughter has not learned from her past mistakes, but his discipline technique is not working either. I doubt that his posting this video to her Facebook page and shooting up her computer will do much for strengthening her relationship with her family.
That being said, I too thought this was one of the funniest things I have seen.
I’m sure the father is a getting a rash of grief and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t care. He makes an excellent albeit harsh point. Perhaps if more parents were willing to draw a line in the sand, we’d see less entitlement and bad behavior from kids. I made sure my kids saw the video. Told them no electronics were going to be shot–yet. I think they get the point.
I bet he’s getting a rash from all the pats on the back. Holy Joe, his video went from 2.8 million yesterday when I saw it to 14 million now and, if you’re keeping score, he’s got 171K likes vs. 14K dislikes.
I imagine Dr. Phil, Jerry Springer and the like have already pitched Dad and Daughter for an upcoming episode. Move over “Tiger Mother”, “NRA Father” is coming through!
He acted 15 yrs old himself shooting the laptop. STUPID!!