Forgotten Sleep

After I posted my rant about Jon & Kate last week, I didn’t think I would ever encounter another set of parents who I thought treated their children more recklessly than they do.

I was wrong.

The Heene family — that family who pulled the helium balloon stunt with their 6-year-old child — has now assumed this place of dubious honor. Against my better judgment last week, I blogged about how horrible it would be to be a parent in their situation. I expressed sympathy and fear for these people. And, it turns out, they planned it all in a sick attempt to get a reality show. That is disgusting.

Pulling stunts that are inventive and entertaining is one thing. But, preying on peoples’ sympathies, basest fears and compassions is beyond horrific. I’m appalled that these parents, who apparently met in acting school, would claim that their own child was in mortal danger to get people to pay attention to them. What if something had actually happened to the child while he was hiding in the attic? What if something happens to him a few years down the road?

I can’t even bring myself to say that one of my children is sick if I decide I need a mental health day from work simply for the fear that they might actually fall ill. I’d feel ridiculously guilty if that happened. Clearly, these parents don’t have the same regard for their children.

And, what kinds of lessons are they teaching these impressionable kids? Instead of teaching them about honest work and integrity, they’re teaching them that fame and fortune are the most important things and that it is okay to do anything you have to in order to gain notoriety. There is just all kinds of wrong with that. These kids will one day be unleashed on society with a set of corrupted morals so foul that they will have difficulty finding a place to belong.

I’ve heard that Child Protective Services has possibly been called in to assume guardianship over these children. Not a moment too soon. While that little boy might not have been in physical danger, his parents are certainly abusing his mind and those of his siblings. In some ways, that kind of abuse is far worse.

I’m not a fan of the idea that you need a license to become a parent, but when I see situations like this — where parents are using their children as props to manipulate other people — I can’t help but think that, in some cases, it might be a good idea.