To My Porn-Watching Dad, From Your Daughter

[Aquila]

While I mentioned that there seemed to be a "blame game" in the young woman's story, I'd also like to mention something else. I believe the father was irresponsible here. Any parent who owns anything of an intimate or private nature knows that it must be kept from the prying eyes and fingers of children. This guy left his garbage open to be discovered and viewed, knowing he has a 12 year old daughter that is in the house, and would most likely use the computer. This is an irresponsible dad.

On a side note... my parents weren't perfect. I don't think anyone's parents are. I can't blame my mom for my issues because I was taken aback by the raunchy story line in a "romance novel" I stumbled across while bored one day. Parents aren't perfect. They are human beings with human nature. Since when did we start demanding such a high level of perfection from our kids and/or parents that when we discover their humanity, weaknesses, or sins we fall all apart like a house of cards???

Mom was a very modest Pentecostal lady. She raised me as a single mom for most of my childhood. Am I to freak out, or think less of her, because she had a couple steamy "romance novels" on the book shelf in her bedroom? I don't think so.

My mom was a Pentecostal lady who prayed for me and drug me to church with her all the time. She'd pray at home often. She'd also play worship and praise music quite regularly. But she wasn't Mother Theresa. She was also a human being with human desires, interests, and needs. She was a lady entitled to her privacy.

I think that sometimes we expect far too much of our children, our parents, our friends, our spouses, and even our elders. People are human. And though some abuses, realizations, and discoveries stick with us... ultimately we're responsible for our own life choices.