Your Mistakes. My Problem.

9/14/2026

First, click the image to watch the video. Then, read and think about the following:

There is a particular kind of pain that comes with watching someone you love struggle and wondering if you could have done something differently.

Parents often question themselves when their children experience tragedy, make choices they regret, or end up somewhere they never expected. Even when their children are grown, that feeling of responsibility may not go away.

The mother of Lil Durk says she blames herself for what happened to both of her sons: one lost his life to violence, while the other son is incarcerated.

Although parents influence who we become, children begin making choices of their own when they become adults. Still, when something goes wrong, parents often ask themselves: What could I have done differently? Where did I go wrong? Could I have prevented this?

Sometimes blame comes from what parents did. Sometimes it comes from what parents didn't do. And sometimes parents blame themselves for things they may never have had the power to control.

Let's Write! Are your parents responsible for the mistakes their children make in their own lives?

INSTRUCTIONS

1. INCLUDE: Last Name, First Initial, AND Class Block. You do not have to include an email address or a website.

2. Respond to the post. Read the entire post, including watching any videos or reading any articles attached. Do not post vague or ambiguous commentary. Your post should have depth, be thoughtful, and provide specific, meaningful insight. Make sure it addresses the topic and encourages reflection, discussion, or a connection.

3. You MUST comment on at least TWO other posts from any student in any class. Your replies cannot be identical comments on different posts and posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will earn you a zero. Make sure your reply addresses the comment that you are responding to.

4. Language. Do NOT use profanity. Vague or repeated responses will not be accepted in your post or replies.

5. Disrespectful comments will not be accepted and will result in a zero whether you do the assignment or not.

REMINDERS

**Set a weekly alarm or calendar timer. Whatever you do to remember other important events, I'd do the same for this assignment.

**Don't wait until the last minute. Telling me that you didn't do the assignment on Friday because you broke your leg, for example, on Thursday will not do anything for you when you've had a week. Be responsible and accountable.

**How to post. Click in the top right hand corner or the lower left hand corner where it says Comments to access the discussion board. Once there, scroll to the bottom of the page to post a Reply. After, choose comments from at least two students from any class and Reply to what they wrote.

CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school, your family or your upbringing with tasteless, meaningless comments. This is for a grade.

DISCLAIMER: If you do not respond AND comment on TWO others, you will not receive credit for this assignment. If you do not write your name correctly, and I don't see your work, you will not receive credit for this assignment. If you use profanity, you will not receive credit for the work. It's all or nothing.

WARNING: If you post even one second past midnight, your comment might appear to be posted, but as soon as it is opened to be graded, it will automatically delete.

Due Fri., Sep. 18, 11:59 p.m. CST

Fuentes, A. 7B

9/14/2026 12:22:08 pm

I do not believe that parents are fully responsible for the mistakes that their children make in their own lives because those children, once grown, are their own people. When a child is growing up, the parent is responsible for helping them learn right from wrong, and shaping them in how they both view and treat the world; however, parents can only influence their children, and cannot control them as if they are purely just an extension of themselves. It is inevitable for children to make mistakes as parents were once children too, but the parent's job is to keep children from making as few mistakes as possible, and to teach them how to fix those mistakes as best as they possibly can.

aylin b

9/16/2026 01:48:26 pm

I agree with this statement because they are correct when they say how once a kid grows up , they are on their own.As adults,its expected for us to be independent and to do the right choices now that they can get into legal trouble and have a record.Its not normal that a grown adult needs another adult to guide them into making the right decisions and to make sure they arent getting into trouble.I also agree in where they said how they should fix the mistakes by teaching them how to fix it.It shows that kid not only the consequences but it teaches them that they need to make effort to fix their mistake and how they cant get away with it just because it was a mistake.

Dunlap D 6B

9/17/2026 10:45:41 am

I partially agree, I feel like some people don't have that support system or guidance growing up and honestly may not know right from wrong, so it can be more normal than you think that a grown adult needs help to guide them earlier on into adulthood. At the same time it's on the person to want to be better and try to learn,

Moore, A 6B

9/18/2026 09:56:32 am

I agree because parents have a big influence on how their children grow and make decisions.

Castro, E. 2A

9/18/2026 10:32:23 pm

I agree, parents shouldn't fully feel responsible for what their adult or growing child does. Although, parents have to have a backbone and guide their child, the direction and final decision is up to the child.

Aylin B

9/16/2026 01:43:51 pm

Parents are not fully responsible for the action of their kids because they have done their part of teaching them right from wrong,what consequences can lead to and more.A parent wont always be there for their kid to navigate them into doing the right choice.Kids can be influenced by their friends,the enviroment their in, or social media to do things that can put them in danger and others.I do believe that kids actions first come from what they see their parents do, but its a parents job to guide them into doing whats right.

Dunlap D, 6B

9/17/2026 10:39:55 am

I totally agree that kids can be influenced by all those outside factors, The blame cant be put on parents, and a lot of times kids don't communicate the problems to their parents, so the parents doesn't know what could have influenced them to make that mistake. Making them blame themselves for not being there for their child.

Smith,O

9/18/2026 08:43:10 am

I think you made a good point about how parents can have some responsibility if they never teach their children right from wrong. A child needs guidance while they are growing up because they are still learning how their actions affect other people. At the same time, I agree that once someone is older and understands the difference between right and wrong, they have to take responsibility for the choices they make.

Fuentes, A. 7B

9/17/2026 10:55:11 am

I completely agree that a child is influenced by their external environmental factors such as social media nowadays, but also who they grow up with and hang out around; however, a parent can do only so much. I think that parents should guide their children to do what is right, but unfortunately, that sometimes gets overridden by bad influences.

Smith,O

9/18/2026 08:42:29 am

I agree with your point about outside influences affecting the choices children make. Even if parents teach their children right from wrong, they cannot control who their children spend time with or everything they see online. I also think that as children get older, they need to take more responsibility for their own decisions instead of always depending on their parents.

Moore, A 6B

9/18/2026 09:59:48 am

I agree because parents can correct their children but when they grow up and meet new people they mindset can change and get influenced by others.

Calvin M 2A

9/18/2026 04:00:47 pm

I completely agree with your point about how outside factors like peers as social media play a huge role in the choice people make as they grow up . Even when parents do their absolute best to teach right from wrong they cant control every enviorment or situation their child encounters as a adult

Castro, E. 2A

9/18/2026 10:35:07 pm

I agree, although parents are the backbone and foundation of their children at one point, that child will eventually start to want to be on their own, and make their own decisions, knowing what is right and wrong, so if they decide to do something wrong, that is all placed on the child and not the parent,

Daviontaye Gayton

9/17/2026 08:48:43 am

Yes, if you become wealthy, you should help your immediate family, but it should be a choice based on care rather than a forced duty.Supporting Your Parents Giving back, Your parents worked hard to raise you and pay for your needs. Sharing your wealth means making sure they do not have to worry about old age or medical bills Helping them is a normal way to say thank you for their support.There is no strict legal or universal moral obligation to support your family financially when you become wealthy, though expectations vary greatly by culture and personal relationships.

amya ford

9/17/2026 08:57:16 am

Yes, I agree. If someone becomes financially successful, helping their immediate family—especially their parents—is a meaningful way to show appreciation for everything they have done. Parents often make sacrifices to provide their children with opportunities, so being able to support them later in life can help give them comfort and security. At the same time, I believe this support should come from love and gratitude rather than feeling like an unavoidable obligation. There may not be a universal rule requiring wealthy people to financially support their relatives, but choosing to help family when you can is a generous and caring thing to do.

Calvin , M 2A

9/18/2026 04:30:11 pm

I agree with your point that supporting parents should come from care and gratitude rather than feeling like a forced obligation . showing
appreciation for everything parents sacrificed to raised us make sense

Dunlap D, 6B

9/17/2026 10:35:26 am

In my opinion, to some degree parents have a part to play in the mistakes their children make until a certain age. Under certain circumstances, for example if you didn't teach your child any better or didn't enforce the rules and they wind up doing something bad then of course you have a part to play, now of course the child still made that bad decision but in their eyes there was nothing wrong with that choice because they've never been told otherwise. But when they get older and if they’ve been taught right and wrong the parents aren't responsible for choices their children make. A parent can only do so much for their child because there are so many outside factors that can influence someone.

Fuentes, A. 7B

9/17/2026 10:57:20 am

I think you made a very valid point that as a child they are to learn from their mistakes as the parents are supposed to guide them, and teach them so that they grow as a person. It also makes sense in what you said that once they reach a certain age, it is no longer on the parent for what their child does because they cannot control them any longer, and have done all that they can to lead their children into doing what is right.

Smith,O

9/18/2026 08:41:54 am

I believe parents are responsible for guiding their children, but they are not fully responsible for the mistakes their children make, especially when their children become adults. Parents have an important role in teaching their children right from wrong and showing them how to make good decisions. However, children are also influenced by friends, their environment, and their own experiences. As people grow older, they become responsible for the choices they make and the consequences that come with those choices. I think parents can sometimes blame themselves when something goes wrong because they care about their children and wonder if they could have done more. However, feeling responsible is different from actually being responsible. Parents can give their children guidance and support, but they cannot control every decision their children make.

Rollins, I 2A

9/18/2026 03:39:44 pm

I really like the line "feeling responsible is different from actually being responsible". Your not responsible for everything that happens to others at that your own kids but feeling responsible is okay because that just lets you know they care.

Moore,A 6B

9/18/2026 09:53:23 am

I do believe that the way you act when you get older can come from how your parents raised you. However, I also believe that as we get older we become Independent and responsible for our own actions.

Rollins, I 2A

9/18/2026 03:41:31 pm

Yes, when we reach a certain age and become adults, we are responsible for ourselves and our actions not our parents.

Rollins, I 2A

9/18/2026 03:33:58 pm

No I don't think your parents are or should be responsible for their child's mistakes, depending on how they are parenting. If you're a good parent, taught your kid right from wrong, didn't spoil them, and gave them a pretty decent childhood, then you shouldn't be responsible for their mistakes once they reach a certain age because by then, they should already know the consequences and benefits of their actions. But if you spoiled your kid, let them do whatever they wanted without telling them what was right and was wrong, or even abused them, or anything like that, then yes, I think a parent should be at least partially responsible because since they didn't have anyone teach them right from wrong and that some actions have consequences and just didn't parent too well then once they reach a certain age, it would've stuck with them for the whole life and now they're going to think that they could do whatever they want regardless of the consequences. so I think it just depends one how a parent is when parenting.

Calvin M, 2A

9/18/2026 03:55:24 pm

No, parents are not responsible for the choices their children make as adults. while parents shape their children's early environment , values and development , adults posses free will and independence , once an individual reaches adult , they are exposed to enteral influences , peer decisions and societal factors that parents cannot control or predict . while it's natural for mothers like Lashawnda Woodland to feel deep guilt or reflect on past decisions , individuals remain responsible for their own choices and actions.

Castro, E. 2A

9/18/2026 09:58:52 pm

Parents should not be held responsible for the personal mistakes their adult or growing children make, as every individual ultimately possesses their own free will and personal accountability. While parents shape a child's early foundation, values, and environment, they cannot control every choice, impulse, or external influence a child encounters as they navigate life. However, it is entirely understandable why parents often feel responsible, the deep emotional bond of parenthood naturally fosters a sense of obligation. leading many to second guess their upbringing and carry guilt over outcomes beyond their control.

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