Richard R RamosRichard R. Ramos. Founder of Parents on a Mission,Youth on a Mission, and Latino Coalition for Community Leadership

How Amanda Earned Respect and Authority as a Single Mom

13 Apr 2026 · 1 min

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1:03

Richard R. Ramos argues parents must stay the final decision-makers for their kids, not hand authority to teachers or coaches. Amanda, who started parenting young, found her children recognized her authority early. Authority has to be earned through consistent behavior.

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earning respect for your authority as a parent. Because what I've seen, had seen when I was out in the field working with a lot more parents at the time, way back there, so many, and it's still true today, I know, because my brother was a high school teacher for 40 years and my oldest son is still a high school teacher and football coach. So, you know, he deals with parents all the time. And one of the things that parents, I feel, make the mistake is they, they abdicate their role of, of authority, and they want to pass it on to, you know, the coach, the teacher, the counselor, the pastor, uh, you know. And I'm trying to say, Mom and Dad, no, you are the final authority in the life of your children. But our authority— you have to earn respect for your authority. How has that been for you?
I think because I started so young, it was a little easier, um, to be honest. Like, they knew right away.