[graciegirl]

There are those that follow the rules and think of themselves as rule followers. There are those who look for any way they can to go around the rules and think the person in authority is stupid, wrong, and not needed.

The reason that I was tough on my kids and saw that they saw the gravity of certain situations and made it really hard sometimes, is that I wanted them to realize I meant what I said. So that they would respect authority. I told them and my grandkids I wouldn't bail them out, literally or figuratively, and so far we haven't had to do so. I was the authority figure during the formative years because their dad was flying around all over a good deal of the time.

I have never had occasion to personally witness any failure on the part of law enforcement, although I know it does happen that they can be bullies. We knew that some teachers would be tough and unfair and difficult, and we told our kids they could vent and we would listen, but they must do what the teacher expected and we would not go in to defend them if they didn't. All of us have had superiors who were nasty as hell, but if we want to keep a job we have to learn to do what we are told and what is expected sometimes. Rules are there for a reason.

Stop signs mean Stop. In a very quiet neighborhood, it may call for a very brief stop. A curtsy.