Sparlock is about a mother who has a fundamental disagreement with the child about a toy. THe mother believes, rightly or wrongly, that the toy is a huge threat to the boy's life. Here, I have been laughing at the Sparlock video. THen, I catch myself in a similar parenting dilemna.
My 12 year old loves all things animals, and especially dogs. Thanks to Animal Planet shows like "Pit Bulls & Parollees" and "Pit Bull Boss" - the child sees Pit Bulls as super nice dogs with a needless bad reputation. The child wants to start a dog walking business, and the first customer has 2 pit bulls (they say they are mixes...).
We have a gentle, but large breed dog in the home (not a pit bull). We all go to a neighborhood dog park. Our neighbors from down the road are there with their two pit bulls, both females, and just under a year old. They are trying to socialize the dogs. Guess what happens? The 4 pit bulls that go to the dog park (2 of which are my neighbors) start out playing, then it quickly turns into rough play, then it turns into a small dog fight, and las tnight, it went into a few big dog fights. Last night was by far the worst. Total latch on the neck and not letting go.
Last night, the 12 year old (who is as big as many grownups) decides to try to go into the dog fight and stop it. She thinks she's the resident "Dog Whisperer." I stop the child from going into the fight, and I get an earful of how "nice" pit bulls are! I try to explain that dog fights happen very fast and dogs pulled off of a dog fight often attack the person who pulled them out.
We get home and the 12 year old is still thinking she is going to walk into the neighbor's house (while neighbor is not home), get two pit bulls on a leash, and walk them! I put my foot down. I showed about 25 pit bull Youtube videos. Guess what the child does? Says, "I understand." But, then goes back on the computer to find some nice pit bull videos!
I am not saying that there are not good pit bulls. I'm sure there are. But, dashunds digs, basset hounds howl, and pit bulls are animal agressive. But, the neighbor's pit bulls are so bad, they are attacking the dog fence at the dog park to try to get into the small dog area!
So, I had to ban the dog park, ban walking these pit bulls, etc. I am about ready to ban these stupid pit bull shows. Kids don't see the difference. I knew a kid who watched Steve Irwin, and decided to go feed hotdogs and then wrestle 4 foot alligators for fun. He decided he knew as much as Steve Irwin. "Children, don't do this at home, but I'm the expert" does not work. It's a "Monkey see, Monkey do" when it comes to kids.
Now, I'm like the Sparlock boy's parent! What to do when the parent sees real danger?!?!?
Skeeter