Delinquent Parenting?

Heene hoax

A big story in the States at the moment is the Heene family in Colorado, who claimed that their 6-year-old child was in a large mylar balloon that had become untethered. The balloon could be seen flying hundreds of feet in the sky, chased by military planes. When no child was discovered in the balloon, it was assumed he'd fallen out and a massive ground search ensued. Fortunately, the child was found hiding in an attic back at home, but the family is now under investigation for what turned out to be a complete hoax.

Everyone is really, really annoyed with the Heene's and the local law enforcers have promised to charge them with as much as they can come up with. They're mad. One of the charges being mooted is 'contributing to the delinquency of a minor,' since allegedly all three of their children were in on the hoax. Pundits are describing the parents' behavior as child abuse of the worst form. Really? Worse than, say, taking drugs in front of them, or beating up their mother in plain view? And how does that bode for the rest of us?

I let the occasional swear word slip out (and get roundly told off by my 6-year-old); I quaff wine some evenings before they go to bed; I tell them to say that I'm not home when I can't be bothered to take a phone call; I don't make them go to church on Sundays. Am I contributing to their delinquency? I really hope this charge isn't brought against the Heenes as it may take American parents down a very scary road.