Quote:
Originally Posted by graciegirl
I still say it has a lot to do with a child's own parents not being present as much as they used to be during the formative years. Now this is extending into another generation. I am not saying to give up one's entire life, but just the first five formative years. Young people are setting aside four years for college, five years for a child would be good, either the mom or the dad, either one to be with that child during it's first five years full time.. They are the ONLY ones who have the child's best interests instinctively wired into them. When you are not with a child as much as we used to be, we become more like grandparents or treasured aunts and can't see the child's faults, or don't want to see them. Straightening out the little issues early on and making them important issues gives children a moral compass. It doesn't always work but it mostly does.
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I did not have the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom, but I have two sons that grew up to be outstanding adults. I was an integral part of their lives (unlike dad) and my word was LAW....not even up for discussion. My youngest son's friend once remarked to him, "Aw, Shannon, your mom's not going to do anything." to which he replied, "You don't know my mom and I'm not gonna try her!" I was never a parent to say, "Oh, my child wouldn't do that." Kids will do what they think/know they can get by with. I listened to their side, as well. When they were wrong, they were wrong and when they were right, they were right. They learned early on that lying would make things a whole lot worse (besides, they were really bad at it). They also attended church, were involved in scouting, the Y, and an organization known as Kids, Inc. which involved them in supervised sports events.
Kids today have zero discipline, have no concept of the word "no", and are allowed to do "their own thing". Excuse me, but that is why the good Lord gives us parents....to teach and guide. Time-out is a total joke. What ever happened to plain ole hard work and the proverbial woodshed? If my boys were in trouble in school.....they were in more when they got home. They had boundaries and they had chores. Believe me, I could find plenty to keep them from being "bored". They both had jobs in high school, too.
Were my kids perfect? Not by a long shot, but they were never involved in anything remotely serious, either. Both are now retired from the Navy. working on second careers. They both told me that the ones who couldn't adjust to service life were the ones who never had to do anything at home and had very little, if any, discipline. One made the remark right after going off to basic, "Now, I understand why we were told only once to do or not do something."