It should be a parent’s nature to guard and protect their children. It should be in their nature to teach their children right from wrong and help them to grow into healthy, responsible adults.

It should not to be in their nature to commit crimes with their children. The teenage years most likely are not the best to have to begin to parent a child. Yet with teen pregnancy rates at highs, more and more teenagers are becoming parents – often continuing to make poor decisions. As reported in heraldnews.suntimes.com.

Chrystlynn Boyd is one of those teenagers. The 19-year-old was either shoplifting or offering her 3-year-old son in trade to a store back in August.

Would she really trade her kid in for take three tank tops?

Boyd and her child went to the register and paid for one small item, but not the hidden tank tops. When pursued by store security Boyd kept the tops and left her child behind.

What the heck was she thinking?

She was arrested on charges of shoplifting and endangering the health of a child. The child was turned over to other family members.

That is a frightening tale. I hope she gets the help she needs. At the very least an Illinois theft class and parenting counseling.