Will anyone disagree with me when I say that parents need to be strong role models for their kids? Would you agree with me that going to the store with your kids and blatantly shoplifting is modeling good behavior?

I cannot tell you how you how often I read stories about parents going on shoplifting sprees with their kids. Perhaps it is because I am a counselor for an online stop theft class, but I am alarmed at the parenting going on in the USA right now. As reported in wauwatosa.patch.com.

This story begins with a woman who, with winter coming on, went to the mall to shop for her two children, their young cousin, and her brother, who needed a wardrobe update because he had just gotten out of jail.

Part of the plan never included paying for the items, but she sure wanted to make sure the kids' clothes fit.

Latasha Alphonse went to Macy’s with her three children, a 2-year-old son, 3-year-old daughter and their 8-year-old male cousin, and she was pushing a stroller with the youngest child in it.

Going to the children’s section, the 24-year-old Alphonse selected several children’s winter coats and took them to a fitting room, along with the kids. Big surprise - when they came out, all three children were wearing their new coats.

Alphonse stuffed the 8-year-old boy’s pants leg with a men’s shirt stashed there. Alphonse then produced another men’s shirt from behind her back and announced that there was more in the stroller, under her youngest.

In total, she had six children’s coats, two pairs of pants, three casual shirts, four T-shirts and two hats, all together worth $1,676.50 retail.

Alphonse admitted that she felt bad about introducing the 8-year-old to thievery, but she thought her own children were too young to know what was going on and wouldn't be affected by it.

Shameful behavior that has no excuse. I hope Alphonse is mandated to a theft and shoplifting class and decides to become a good parent.