[OBW]

Actually, despite saying to Dennis that there is nothing much in this thread, I do not think it is totally useless, even if it is so for some.

I mostly agree with Hope that the parenting I saw was not that different from others I could observe. The main difference would have been some tendency by many to try to isolate their kids from the "world." While the idea is noble, many of the things done with that in mind do not adequately prepare them for the day that they are turned out on their own and the world challenges the belief system that they have not yet internalized.

Rather than helping them deal with the reality of life gradually over several years, there is a tendency to build a hedge around them and avoid it all. The problem is that the hedge tends to disappear overnight and the onslaught of contrary information can be overwhelming. So rather than build the clarity of conviction and faith as a part of growing up, they are confronted with all of it at once.

This is not just a LC problem. It also happens among some conservative Christians who over-protect their kids from those "others" thorugh home schooling, separate activities, etc. I am not necessarily opposed to home schooling. But it too often helps to enforce the hedge/no hedge problem I spoke of earlier.