We’ve all seen it: parents who try to protect their kids from poor choices they’ve made. In school, some parents view the teachers as the enemy. When their child fails or behaves badly, they blame the teacher. “If my child is doing poorly, it’s got to be YOUR fault. You’re just a bad teacher,” I overheard once. We’re seeing this happen all over the United States: teachers, police officers, and other authority figures in our kids’ lives being attacked by parents whose kids are making poor choices. Protecting our kids from the consequences of their actions isn’t love—it’s abuse. The Bible says, “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them” (Proverbs 13:24 NIV). Fail at that, and we fail our kids.

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Suggested Reading: Proverbs 13:24