DEDICATED TO PARENT(S) EVERYWHERE WHO HAVE BEEN AT THE RECEIVING END OF BEING HIT BY their CHILD.

I guess its safe for me to assume that since I have a blog, have written a book, been on the radio and give advice on my ASK C.V. column, that I can be considered a point-of-reference in the eyes of some. Although I am grateful for the blessings that I have received, one must remember that I am a single parent just as many of you are. I flail around to get answers at parenting and relationships as well as seeking sound solutions regarding everyday situations that my life presents just as Im sure yours does. I offer to my readers mere suggestions to resolve overwhelming and/or negative circumstances that they share with me to hopefully gain resolve. I bring another slant in which to view a dilemma to possibly learn, thrive and flourish as a better individual. Because lets face it, we are all in this thing called life TOGETHER! So let each one teach one.

The following is my attempt to open the eyes of some blinded by a fury strong enough to prompt a child to strike their parent(s): God help the chile, for they know not what they do!

In my journey through life people talk to me. Candidly. They speak to me about a variety of matters of the heart such as infidelity, drugs, rape, incest, divorce, school, separation, abandonment, adoption, loneliness, alcoholism, aging, dying, death, work, and assault. How many of us have been in a situation where your child, your spawn, your baby, your seed, has hit, scratched, punched, kicked at, and yes, assaulted Y-O-U?

No need to re-read because you read it right the first time. And Im not talking about a full-grown person who is thoroughly experienced with the twists and turns of life, who may have battered their elder parent (although thats a topic of another discussion). Im speaking of the baby-girls and baby-boys who are in their late teens and early twenties. The ones who naively believe that theyve mastered the techniques in the bedroom and that illusioned mastery gives them a license to think that they know more then we do, or that they are/or will ever be as grown as we, the parents. These are the very ones who you opted to give life, instead of being the first one in the abortion line. These foreign beings, and I call them foreign because if they have the balls to hit a parent, then they certainly arent the children you have grown to know over the years, are they?

These outsiders actually had the audacity, the disrespect, the bravado, and the unadulterated gall, to strike you? Oh - it gets better - check this one out: They lash out at you and all the while you have your palms open and outstretched as you try unsuccessfully to avoid yet another foul kick from your offspring as they scream, scratch and hit you. Later, you find out through the vine of gossip, that theyve lied on you (as they are now the one homeless because youve thrown them out) and they now falsely accuse you of say, breaking one of their arms, legs, or three of their ribs when you never striked them to begin with. You never got a blow in even if you wanted to, nor were your intentions to cause bodily injury to your loved one. You were busy trying to protect yourself from the passion that echoed each of the kicks you endured from your offspring as they were being dished out! That one certainly tops the list of betrayal doesnt it? Being kicked by your kid I mean.

What a difficult untruth to have to keep up with once youve lied on your parent wouldnt you say? I guess once a child realizes that theyve once and for all overstepped their boundaries with us, and have really blown it in terms of being able to live with us, who would view them in a sympathetic light of some sort if a tale wasnt concocted explaining why weve thrown em out. They must create a tale so truth-seeking that it would appear to place the burden of culpability on the shoulders of the parent. Luckily, most parents have or should have broad shoulders coupled with wisdom to know not to sweat the lies being circulated about them from the mouths of their children. Life will most confidently fix the situation, just give it time. One day your child, hopefully, will see the ruins of his or her behavior, because hindsight has ALWAYS and continues to be 20/20, and thank Gawd for that!!!!

It shouldnt matter what you as a parent said to your child, nor should it matter if what you said may have come out of your mouth with less than the utmost respect. The bottom line is you are the parent and they are the children living under your roof. We should never be put in a situation where we are forced to defend and protect ourselves from our very own children! N-E-V-E-R!

I swear sometimes I believe young adults today just dont think sensibly. They make hasty decisions/actions today, forgetting that often times they must adhere to the commitments that they made or initiated yesterday. They burn valuable bridges by trying to impress a boyfriend or girlfriend, talking fast, sassy and loud. They verbally write checks their inexperienced butts cant cash then their illogical pride kicks in. When all else fails, they lie on us. The parent. UN........REAL!!!

Guess they think theyre showing us by not calling, or coming home once weve had enough and told them to get the hell out!! Dont they think once a parent is F-E-D up from the disrespect weve received for so long, that we no longer care with the same amount of hunger we once did? If you treat a dog like a dog, even hell get tired and run away. Or hell bite off the hand that fed him!!

Once you, dear child, have violated that unspeakable boundary of hitting your parent, we dont care if you call, come back or even apologize to us for that matter. Some actions are just unforgivable!!! Now understand, it doesnt mean that we dont care entirely about your well-being, or have stopped loving you, it means that we are not tolerating anymore of your disrespect!! We have given up and are now letting the lessons of life take over as your teacher. Unbeknownst to you, youll respect life a helluva lot better than you respect the parent that you decided to lash out at.

Assault at the hands of your child is, in my eyes, UNFORGIVABLE! And that my friend, should not be open for discussion, by anyone.

(c) 2006 by C. V. Harris. All Rights Reserved.