[redwitch]

I think one thing that has truly hurt our children and grandchildren is the desire to be friends with the child. I always felt my daughter had friends. She needed me to be her mother. It was up to me to discipline her, be a good role model, teach her the values I felt were important. I couldn't do this if I was her buddy.

I watched many of the parents of her peers be so busy being friends to their children, their children had nowhere to turn when they needed guidance -- the school staff was too busy, overcrowded; teachers are afraid to spend one-on-one time with a student because of false accusations; church was given lip service, so religious leaders were not turned to. Kids turn to their friends and compare notes and decide that way what should or should not be done.

So, this, to me, is a large problem with today's generation. Of course, that doesn't explain why so many of our generation has tossed ethics and morals out the window. I was raised in the 50s. My foundation was based on honesty, trust, responsibility. That didn't change because I was in my teens and 20s in the 60s and 70s. It does seem the greed factor has become the rule of the day -- I've got mine and it doesn't matter how I got it.

Think how many of our politicians have been accused (and frequently convicted) of insider trading, fraud, etc. Athletes win by cheating and are lauded as heroes. Entertainers are in and out of rehab centers. So long as we admire those who cheat and lie and steal to get ahead, we, as a society, lose.