Miley Cyrus' problems...

As everyone knows by now, Miley Cyrus posed for pictures in the Vanity Fair magazine, which includes no one remotely close to her fan base. The pictures were distasteful to say the least, leaving people to blame Vanity Fair as well as photographer Annie Leibovitz. But I say the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of her parents, and specifically Billy Ray Cyrus...who was at the photo session.

Regardless of the claims of many stars of "whatever Annie says, you do", a father's judgement should trump everything else. We live in a culture that's rapidly becoming desensitized, but a parent's first priority should be to protect their childern.

I've been critical of Billy Ray's approach to parenting for some time now...ever since I saw him on Glenn Beck. His approach is really hands off, and he values friendship far more than the father/daughter relationship.

He speaks of Miley having a good head on her shoulders and trusting her judgement, suggesting that he allows her to make many of her own decisions. While it's happened to work well so far, it's a dangerous and slippery slope, and a sloppy approach to parenting.

Any father who hasn't done so yet, please read Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker. Her research indicates that while people believe that kids are growing up faster and becoming adults quicker, there minds still don't become fully developed with the ability to foresee some of the consequences of their choices until into their mid-20s.

This, do a degree, negates the notion of trusting your child to make their own choices. It's unfair and puts an undue burden on the kids, even if they don't realize it.

I urge and plead fathers to stay connected...push through the draining feeling and urge to just give in. You're doing your daughters justice by staying in the fight...even if it makes her unhappy for a time.

The key to our future in deeply entrenched in family values...please let our children learn the family values from you, rather than the culture at large. Resist the notion of wanting to be your daughter's friend first...later on in life, it will make all the difference in your relationship...when your daughter is truly ready to run her own life. And when that time comes, not only will you have been put up on a pedestal as the man she most respects in her life...which will far out weight the notion of being a friend or the coolest parent when she's younger.