1. That's crazy. Ok, she got punished for putting up photos on a dating site, then she got into an argument with her Step mother and she was punished with that by losing the trip. I'm sorry, but the judge not only hurt the father's authority with this issue but told the 12 year old girl by this ruling that she can pretty much treat her step mother how ever she wants to. That's not right at all.

I don't think it's right that kids can take parents to court for things like this. It doesn't sound like there was abuse involved and when a child does something that should be punished don't we usually take away whatever they want the most? Who's to tell parents they are being excessive in this case? Unreal to me. Excessive is beating your kids. Taking away a trip is not.

Posted at 2:23AM on Jun 23rd 2008 by Lisa

2. I argee 100%, you said it all!

Posted at 9:57AM on Jun 25th 2008 by Susan

3. Hey you know, "You got'sta do what you got'sta do." Tommy once said that on the rug rats when he needed to save the day from adults. So, she had to do what she had to do to triumph of adult tiereny.

Posted at 10:28AM on Jun 25th 2008 by Adam

4. Absolutely agree with you! And you know what is really CRAZY...Everyone (including the courts!) Tells us as parents to monitor what your children do online. There are alot of sick people out there..etc. etc; So you do this, you punish them, and the court says "Oh no..." thats not right!! WHAT??? are you serious??? Then you know what, don't blame me when my kids are running around a menance to society! The courts did it not me!! If my kid got molested by some freak on the internet, its bad parenting...but if you try and prevent it, it's bad parenting...Someone Please give me a manuel with these kids, preferably one that has all the laws and guidelines attached to it.

Posted at 12:34PM on Jun 25th 2008 by jeannie

5. PPL FAIL TO SEE THE FACT, THAT YOUR KIDS REFLECT U AS A PARENT. WE R SO QUICK TO BLAME THEM FOR BEING "SPOILED", BUT NEGLECT HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY IN THE FIRST PLACE. MAYBE IF HER PARENTS HAD PUT THEIR FOOT DOWN AT A YOUNGER AGE, THIS COURT RULING BULL SHIT, WOULDNT HAVE HAPPENED. DONT GET ME WRONG AS A 20 YEAR OLD, I LIKE THE THOUGHT THAT I COULD HAVE SUED MY PARENTS, BUT EVEN I HAVE TO AGREE, THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH. SHE TOOK IT WAY TOO FAR. BUT WE CANT BLAME HER, FOR SOMETHING HER PAERNTS OBVIOUSLY FORGOT TO TEACH HER, WAS NEGATIVE. IF ANY ONE IS TO BLAME ITS THEM =]

Posted at 3:43AM on Jun 26th 2008 by EMOKID1988

6. Last time I checked, kids are citizens too and have the right to take things to court.

Posted at 5:21PM on Jul 1st 2008 by amanda

7. Frightening precedent. Wonder how long it'll take for this to come to the US.

Posted at 8:36AM on Jun 23rd 2008 by Rae Whitlock

8. It has already,we need to get the state out of the homes,and let the parents back in to control our kids!

Posted at 6:22AM on Jun 25th 2008 by mike

9. Considering how many people want to follow in the steps of Canada and other socialized countries, it probably will come to the U.S. soon. After all, isn't the government better able to make our decisions for us (including our parenting ones)? I guess for those who think it takes a village are probably willing to hand their kids over to the village to be raised.

Posted at 9:46AM on Jun 23rd 2008 by Lisa

10. It should also be noted that this went to court because the mother disagreed as well. The family court system has a review system for situations where divorced parents do not agree with each other and responsibility is not clearly spelled out in the custody agreement.

This is not a case where a child randomly sued her parents over discipline (although that is how it's being presented in the media).

Posted at 12:33PM on Jun 23rd 2008 by Monica

11. And we wonder...why our teenagers act the way they do today!

Posted at 7:00AM on Jun 25th 2008 by Debbie McNeil

12. if the court is going to hand out punishments, they need also to gain custody and hand in the child support payments. i mean really when we have court systems overrun with real crime they have the time to be a surrogate parent? no i dont think so.

Posted at 7:03AM on Jun 25th 2008 by sd hurt

13. Next time they should ship the lil brat over to the judges house and let him feed and clothed her.

Posted at 8:30AM on Jun 25th 2008 by jasper5245

14. And we wonder why people are not having kids anymore.

Posted at 8:33AM on Jun 25th 2008 by jasper5245

15. So turn it around and whenever you want to punish the child... Get a court order... Shouldn't have to do that but that is basicall what this judge just said...

Posted at 9:06AM on Jun 25th 2008 by Alvin

16. First, to hell with the lawyer that took the case. Second, to hell with the idiot judge who didn't throw the case out of court.

Posted at 9:18AM on Jun 25th 2008 by James

17. Dad was being spiteful because she fought with stepmom.
I'm glad the girl got help from a judge, parents can be complete idiots.

Posted at 9:19AM on Jun 25th 2008 by Lisa

18. sounds to me like you are the idiot either that or you dont have kids yourself the kid needs to treat the stepmother with some respect and the mother needs to not try to over rule the punishment the father gives just because she is jealous of the stepmother

Posted at 2:19PM on Jun 25th 2008 by paula

19. they should whip that kids ass and be done with it

Posted at 9:26AM on Jun 25th 2008 by mike

20. The story doesn't talk about what problems existed on an ongoing basis between the step-m and the teen. My guess is that the kid has been playing the parents and step-m against each other like violins and the father had enough. That the mother took her instead of making her deal with the problem might be a clue. I'm guessing that this is a manipulative, spoiled kid who's just pulled off a coup that is going to make life really miserable for all of the adults in her life. May God have mercy on those adults.

Posted at 9:56AM on Jun 25th 2008 by rcott