A Guest Blog

Saw this post on a friends blog and thought I need to share this.  Hope you enjoy it and you can check out more from Chico Woo here

I am writing this post reflecting on the fact that I am now the father of two teenagers. I am not just any father, but a former youth pastor. The reason I am writing is because I was recently in a circumstance where I caught myself being “that parent”. You are probably asking what I mean about “that parent”. Let me explain. When I was a youth pastor, most of the parents of the young people I pastored were wonderful, but there were a few parents who were well intentioned but a bit challenging. At the time I told myself I would never be “that parent”, but now that I am the parent of teens I have realized that the pull to be “that parent” is strong. So I post this not as judgment (because I am finding myself there) but just a reminder to myself not to be “that parent.”

The Gossip Girl Parent
The parent that knows everything going on with every kid in the youth group: who is going out with whom, who held hands, who is listening to secular music, who has a hickey… This parent should be the Google of youth group gossip. Although you may be tempted to enlist this parent’s help to know what is going in the youth group, proceed with caution.

The Judge Judy Parent.
This parent is the parent that makes quarterly appointments with the youth pastor to inquire about what is being done about the rampant sin in the youth group.

The Charles in Charge Parent.
The parent that expects the youth pastor to parent their child.

The Miss Daisy Parent.
The parent that expects the youth pastor be your child’s personal car service.

The Ministry Parent
There are stage parents and sports parents. Well there are also ministry parents. These parents have unfulfilled ministry aspirations and are trying to live vicariously through their child’s ministry. They bear an uncanny resemblance to Joe Simpson. To them I say, “Stop ministry pimping your child.”

The Wimpy Parent
“I will pay you next Wednesday for a hamburger today”. The parent does not give any money to their child, so when we go out I end up buying the $10 coke. Which means that I buy a coke for a $1, and your child buys a $9 meal and I have to pay for it. I try to be generous but you know I’m a youth pastor, which means I make less than a 13 year old on a newspaper route. I have applied to FEMA for a bail out.

The Wardrobe Malfunction Parent.
This is the parent that is totally oblivious to how your child dresses. Give your child a once over before they leave the house. Yes, we should be fashionable, but your children should not be dressed exposing themselves. Pull it up, pull it down, cover it up, button it up, tell them to change!

What are some types of parents that you have encountered in your youth/student ministry?  Please add to my list so that I will not be “that parent”.