Betty tett bio

Raising a brat: Is this a case of new age parenting?

But then I realised that I was not helping my son achieve the kind of discipline I wished for him," she says.

The benefit of bringing up a child in the authoritative style of parenting, Sheila says, is "solidifying the belief that wrong behaviour does not benefit and good behaviour is cherished."

The problem with the authoritarian style, she adds, is that sometimes children understand very little about the mistakes they are being punished for.

Shielding them from life's challenges is a recipe for disaster," she warns.

Jerusha Otieno, who has over two decades of experience parenting an adopted son and daughter, says that in many ways, adoptive parenting is not much different from raising a biological child. My prayer is that she takes it upon herself when she wants something done or accomplished," she says.

Be authoritative; not authoritarian - Expert

In the old days, before the Internet was a thing in Kenya, and before corporal punishment was banned [not that it is related to parenting] children learnt by the cane.

"Our parents used to say that the ears of a child were on their buttocks," Jardine recalls.

And so, spanking was an everyday reality that every naughty child had to contend with.

Betty's son, David William Tett, had been sentenced to death for participating in a violent robbery against his own father, William Mulready Tett, and two domestic workers at the family's Karen home. Former Nairobi magistrate Kiarie Waweru Kiarie, now judge  handed the death penalty to David after he found him guilty of robbing his father at gun point in June 28, 2013.

"Before acquiring the skills and the knowledge I have today I naturally applied the same skills my parents used on me. Also, our society continuously borrows from Western culture. Philomena Ndambuki, a child psychologist at Kenyatta University, the onus is on every parent to offer guidance to their child(ren).

"It is the responsibility of the parent to shape the values that a child grows up with.

If a child made a mistake they would be punished by anyone with authority. (After an appeal, this was reduced to 15 years, and he was released in 2021.)

The case drew significant public interest.

In an interview in June 2012, during the trial period, Betty narrated how the family had lived in fear following their adopted son's threats to their lives.

During his sentencing, the former assistant minister described her foster son as a troubled child.

During the trial, the heartbroken mother told the court: "We brought him up and took him in when he was very young.

However, over time, with love and trust, they can embrace their new home.

Ken Otieno and his sister Lynett Otieno are perfect examples of a successful adoption. Initially placed in a foster home, he was later taken in by the Tetts, who had the best intentions for the toddler.

David grew up surrounded by all the trappings of a good life and love, just like his biological siblings.

She says that since the Tetts' tragic case, she has encountered many beautiful success stories of children redeemed from desperate circumstances whose futures once seemed bleak and violent.

"Cases of children turning against their parents are not limited to adopted or foster children-many biological children have also been involved in horrifying incidents," says Joan Mwangeka, a social worker.

"Parenting a foster child can be more challenging than parenting biological children.

She will have to listen to my advice and take the direction I want her to take," Harriet insists.

According to Prof.