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Mother accused of bad parenting after taking daughter to concert

As children grow into teenagers, it's important for them to learn how to navigate the world and gain independence in a safe, controlled manner. For divorced parents, this can mean that one parent believes the child should have more freedom or experiences than the other. One father ended up asking the courts to intervene after he disagreed with his ex-wife's decision to take their 11-year-old daughter to a rock concert.

The case began in December 2013, when the girl's mother agreed to take her to a Pink concert. According to reports, the girl was accompanied to the concert by her mother. The father was not happy with the mother's decision and argued that the decision to go to the concert did not show an appropriate use of parental discretion.

The judge in the case heard both sides, interviewed the girl in question and ended up ruling in favor of the mother. The judge acknowledged that some parents may have concerns with the lyrics or more suggestive aspects of the live show but that overall, the concert was not inappropriate for an 11-year-old. The judge also made note of the positive lyrics and messages in several of the pop star's songs as well.

In almost all family court cases involving children, the judge's decision comes down to what the judge believes is in the best interests of the child. However, parental rights and discretion also need to be taken into consideration. Even if the judge does disagree with the parent's decision, the judge still may not rule against the parent if there was no risk to the child's welfare.

Source: FOX News, "Judge: Attending Pink concert didn't harm New Jersey girl," April. 25, 2015

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