My friend, Christa, recently sent this to me.
I have to laugh at people who are against spanking. My parents whipped my butt and I learned the Switch Dance. I didn't hate them. I didn't have trust issues with them because of it. I trusted I was in big trouble when I screwed up and did things my way! I didn't fear them. I feared getting caught doing wrong! But I sure respected them! I learned what my boundaries were and knew what would happen if I crossed them. I wasn't abused, I was disciplined. This is why kids nowadays have no respect for anyone.
Well 'Amen, sista' and a 'high five' to you. Anyone over 40 (and my kids) totally understand this, so why have we allowed the next generation to escape this?
First of all, comes my standard comment. This does not apply to ALL kids but unfortunately it is the majority. Secondly, as parents, we want our kids to have better than us just like our parents wanted, but to what end? Parents are getting waaaaay too lax in things like rules, manners and respect right down to personal hygiene of their children.
As I've said in past columns, our job as parents is to bring your children up to be functioning adults in the REAL world. That means making sure they know how to brush their teeth and comb their hair so when they are out in public they are presentable. Saying "well, if they don't want to do that" or "well, if they can stand smelling themselves" doesn't cut it. My parents always said that personal hygiene was a reflection on them (remember sleeping on rollers and the spit to hold that rooster tail down).
At the onset of the introduction of the family computer, parents were advised to place the computer in a place where they could supervise their children on it. Trust me, I remember not only the battles my children had over their allotted computer time but also what they were allowed to view. That was our job as parents.
Now that the family computer is almost obsolete to kids (because they have their own tablet or cell phone), who is supervising them? WAKE UP, PARENTS! Your children have access to EVERYTHING on the internet WITHOUT your supervision. They can now take that cell phone into the bathroom or their bedroom and go on ANY website they want. That's right.the cell phone and internet YOU'RE PAYING FOR.
It was reported with the recent attacks in Boston that the bombers could find anything they wanted entirely on the internet. This is, once again, proof of how powerful the internet is.
I recently was in Regina to watch my son, Nigel, play hockey and ran into some people from Weyburn who were at the same complex watching their children play soccer. Now this family (they know who they are) renewed my faith in the old fashioned family. At lunch time, they found a place to sit down as a family and eat. They ate a nutritious meal that was packed in a cooler and included everything from sandwiches to fruit to a healthy dessert. Do you think those kids felt deprived because some of their teammates were eating at the concession stand? Not on your life. They don't know any better (or worse). Their parents have made sure that their routine of eating and family time are the same (or as close to) no matter where they are. Did I see any cell phones or texting going on while this family was enjoying their food? No. All I heard was talking. Yes, talking about everything from the soccer game that was just finished to things that happened in school during the week. All I can say is 'thank you' for allowing me to share in your family space.
Let's not turn a blind eye and say "I don't know how that happened" because once something does happen and society (or the law) dissects the course of events, it always becomes very apparent where the breakdown occurs. Don't worry about being your child's "buddy". Remember that's not your job. You know your job and it includes not ever having to say "I don't know how that happened."
Maxine's Saying: Some people can have all the lights on and still be in the dark. (Boy, isn't that the truth!)
Pet peeve of the week: When kids (and adults) have their phone on in the movie theatre. Really!!! You're not that important. If whoever or whatever can't what two hours while you are 'enjoying' a movie then don't go because you're making it very 'unenjoyable' for the rest of us. Maybe that's just melet me know what you think!!!!
