I believe 99% of people are missing Bud Bugs message/point due to the fact that this is a highly charged, sensitive, controversial and personal situation.
Bud Bug agreed that the two year expulsion was harsh, yet there has to be some form of punishment whether it be from the public school or the parent. Allowing a kid to commit this act without a punishment only spells doom, not because weed is wrong but because the kid will have a warped sense of consequences and repercussions in accordance with their mistake or crime. If I brought weed to school when I was thirteen, got caught and suspended for two years, went home and my dad said, "WTF, its just weed!", then saw him rolling up a joint or packing a bong- I would not take the time to seriously consider the severity of my actions simply because one of the most important and influential people in my life doesn't think I should! (Through actions) Now, compoound that with JJScorpio's advice of lying to the principal and/or police. What happens when the kid gets in trouble again over weed at 15? Let's say he has an open beer in the backseat of his older friends car, they get stopped by the police and your son automatically thinks, "WTF, its just a fuckin beer", my dad drinks beer sometimes, it couldn't be that bad. He hides the beer under some trash and gets away with it. Now, at this point your kid hasn't displayed the maturity to understand patience, humility, and responsibility. He thinks that since his dad TOLD him to lie about something that the kid clearly did wrong when he was 13, that its okay to lie or attempt to circumvent the consequences of his actions later on in life. Does anyone seriously think an impressionable 13 year old wouldn't EVER lie again to authority if his own dad condoned it and encouraged it? Authority does not necessarily mean Police or FBI, it also means parents, teachers, bus drivers, etc.. So while you are encouraging him to lie to the principal, little do you know you are telling him its okay to lie when you are in a jam. Then to say that Bud Bugs' daughter is screwed? Ironic.
Plain and simple, marijuana has no place in a 13 year olds life for any reason whatsoever other than medical. And if its medical, it should be either a high CBD strain or very low THC to avoid the mind altering effects. No person (my opinion) under 16 should be involved with marijuana. Why? Because at that young of an age, a childs' brain is still growing and developing in ways that we still do not totally understand and to potentially complicate such an important stage of a persons life is not only ignorant but shortsighted and selfish. I started smoking at 14, and now that I look back on it, I wish my life wouldn't have led me to the opportunity so soon, as I showed a lack of maturity and understanding about the rules of society and the world at that age, coupled with a resentment towards all authority and a love for getting high, honestly I wouldve been much farther in life had I chose to focus on my education solely until I was finished with high school.
I am not saying that this applies to everyone who has smoked weed at a young age, but for me- it does apply.
In my household, if this happened- these are the steps I would take.
1. My son gets a whoopin'! A stern talking to, and a nice 'Made-For-TV' bonding moment to explain.... That while WEED itself is not wrong, choosing to bring it to school IS, showing it off to friends in said school IS, having weed in your possession at such a young age IS, smoking it at such a young age IS. Also explain that the two year sentence is HARSH but emphasize that the harsh sentence is directly connected to the offense, therefore if he would've exercised good judgement and responsibility (like he should be taught) then he would never have to face the harsh expulsion in the first place.
2. Talk to the Principal and try/plea to get the expulsion reduced significantly (if not, go private or home school), have your son there at every step so he understands the amount of work and effort it takes to fix a problem and/or do the right thing instead of the wrong thing.
3. Punish my son personally (some bullshit like no games for a month or something along those lines, something that lasts time)
I think a lot of people in this thread are more comfortable being their childrens' buddy and best friend instead of their parents. We all live in the same world, but regardless of what you think a child knows or sees, there is a difference between a childs' place and an adults' place. Parents need to instill the difference to these kids because a lot of them are growing up entirely too fast.
I know you've seen them around. They are the ones walking the streets during school hours, smoking cigarettes and talking back to authority. I'll be damned if any of my kids ever set a gotdamn foot on that path. But, if this thread is of any indication.... that path will be well traveled regardless by others.
Bud Bug agreed that the two year expulsion was harsh, yet there has to be some form of punishment whether it be from the public school or the parent. Allowing a kid to commit this act without a punishment only spells doom, not because weed is wrong but because the kid will have a warped sense of consequences and repercussions in accordance with their mistake or crime. If I brought weed to school when I was thirteen, got caught and suspended for two years, went home and my dad said, "WTF, its just weed!", then saw him rolling up a joint or packing a bong- I would not take the time to seriously consider the severity of my actions simply because one of the most important and influential people in my life doesn't think I should! (Through actions) Now, compoound that with JJScorpio's advice of lying to the principal and/or police. What happens when the kid gets in trouble again over weed at 15? Let's say he has an open beer in the backseat of his older friends car, they get stopped by the police and your son automatically thinks, "WTF, its just a fuckin beer", my dad drinks beer sometimes, it couldn't be that bad. He hides the beer under some trash and gets away with it. Now, at this point your kid hasn't displayed the maturity to understand patience, humility, and responsibility. He thinks that since his dad TOLD him to lie about something that the kid clearly did wrong when he was 13, that its okay to lie or attempt to circumvent the consequences of his actions later on in life. Does anyone seriously think an impressionable 13 year old wouldn't EVER lie again to authority if his own dad condoned it and encouraged it? Authority does not necessarily mean Police or FBI, it also means parents, teachers, bus drivers, etc.. So while you are encouraging him to lie to the principal, little do you know you are telling him its okay to lie when you are in a jam. Then to say that Bud Bugs' daughter is screwed? Ironic.
Plain and simple, marijuana has no place in a 13 year olds life for any reason whatsoever other than medical. And if its medical, it should be either a high CBD strain or very low THC to avoid the mind altering effects. No person (my opinion) under 16 should be involved with marijuana. Why? Because at that young of an age, a childs' brain is still growing and developing in ways that we still do not totally understand and to potentially complicate such an important stage of a persons life is not only ignorant but shortsighted and selfish. I started smoking at 14, and now that I look back on it, I wish my life wouldn't have led me to the opportunity so soon, as I showed a lack of maturity and understanding about the rules of society and the world at that age, coupled with a resentment towards all authority and a love for getting high, honestly I wouldve been much farther in life had I chose to focus on my education solely until I was finished with high school.
I am not saying that this applies to everyone who has smoked weed at a young age, but for me- it does apply.
In my household, if this happened- these are the steps I would take.
1. My son gets a whoopin'! A stern talking to, and a nice 'Made-For-TV' bonding moment to explain.... That while WEED itself is not wrong, choosing to bring it to school IS, showing it off to friends in said school IS, having weed in your possession at such a young age IS, smoking it at such a young age IS. Also explain that the two year sentence is HARSH but emphasize that the harsh sentence is directly connected to the offense, therefore if he would've exercised good judgement and responsibility (like he should be taught) then he would never have to face the harsh expulsion in the first place.
2. Talk to the Principal and try/plea to get the expulsion reduced significantly (if not, go private or home school), have your son there at every step so he understands the amount of work and effort it takes to fix a problem and/or do the right thing instead of the wrong thing.
3. Punish my son personally (some bullshit like no games for a month or something along those lines, something that lasts time)
I think a lot of people in this thread are more comfortable being their childrens' buddy and best friend instead of their parents. We all live in the same world, but regardless of what you think a child knows or sees, there is a difference between a childs' place and an adults' place. Parents need to instill the difference to these kids because a lot of them are growing up entirely too fast.
I know you've seen them around. They are the ones walking the streets during school hours, smoking cigarettes and talking back to authority. I'll be damned if any of my kids ever set a gotdamn foot on that path. But, if this thread is of any indication.... that path will be well traveled regardless by others.
)
