HEALTH & WELLNESS
Cops’ kids and standard
operating procedures
Why is it that when you’re part of a high-
profile, seemingly morally and legally righteous
profession, your kids are more likely to break
the rules and get caught? First of all, they’re not.
Cops’ kids are no more likely to screw up than
the rest of the teen population. Here’s the thing,
though: when they do, it’s often a really big deal
— to you, them, the community and maybe
CHERIE
CASTELLANO even the department. So what do you do when
Cop2Cop
your kid is on the wrong side of the law or just
feels scrutinized more than most?
Standard operating procedures are a way of life in law
enforcement but parenting does not offer that level of
control. Don’t get so wrapped up in saving the world that you
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ AUGUST 2018
forget what (and who) is at home. Don’t make the mistake
of minimizing your kids’ problems because of the tragedy
you see every day at work. “You didn’t make team captain?
Big deal. You’ve got a roof over your head, no one is abusing
you and you get to watch TV on that flat screen paid for by
hard work. Quit your whining.” Many cops could rush to
this attitude but this is NOT good parenting. Instead, listen
to them and try to put yourself in their shoes. Remember
what it was like to be a teenager? Well, it’s a whole lot more
difficult now and kids need their parents to listen and help
them problem-solve, not tell them how terrible the rest of the
world is and how lucky they should feel. Of course we want
our kids to be socially aware and have compassion for the
less fortunate, but we also need to realize and acknowledge