There a a lot of books and blogs on good parenting. Focus on the Family has been helping Christian parents for decades. A lot of family experts talk about “teachable moments.” My contribution to parenting comes from a different angle altogether: what not to do. From time to time, I’ll share with you some of my “unteachable parenting moments.” Hopefully they’ll prevent you from making the same mistake with your offspring. Here’s a Bad Parenting Moment you should not repeat.

Tricking your children into going on a scary ride will not get them passed their fear of rides, but it will ruin the rest of your Disney vacation.

That was my brilliant idea several years ago when we took the boys, age 5 and 9 to their first trip to Disney. My rational was simple: ride the scariest ride on all  of Disney World early on the first day. Once they’ve gone through it and lived, they would look forward to go any other ride in the entire park. Nope.

The Tower of Terror was our first ride on our first day. I omitted some key points about the attraction when I told them there was a cool movie inside. I failed to mention that there was an 13-store elevator drop. Make that an over-and-over elevator drop.

My plan back fired. “You tricked us. You lied to us,” the white knuckled, shaking and visibly upset children confronted me afterwards. “But you made it, and wasn’t it fun?” “NO!!!” On the second hour of our week-long vacation, the boys were not willing to go on any other remotely thrilling ride. After this harrowing experience even the Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups looked threatening. It was a very long week for all of us.

Have you ever tried to trick you children in doing something and backfired?

Please do share. It will make me feel better.