In defense of the kids these days, they have much more to deal with, usually, starting at home.
Have you ever read some of these childcare books ? "Don't trust your instincts " seems to be a big thing, trust the book, whichever one happens to appeal to you the most, so unlike even my parents in the seventies and eighties who depended on their instincts and parented us, this days we are told that is WRONG, and the book will tell all, parents become confused about what top do and the conflicting advice and "evidence" we are innundated with is incredible.
Children are told as early as kindergarten that if Mommy or Daddy touches you in a way you don't like, tell us and we will have CPS or Social Services come see what's going on, even a teacher can get in trouble for patting a student on the back for a "Good Job".
Parents have given their power away, why I don't know, but we did.
Kids are coming from more broken homes now than EVER, Mom and Dad are BOTH working to make ends meet, it's NOT always a CHOICE whether or not to stay home now, and it makes it even harder for parents to keep a close eye on their kids, now kids being kids, especially teens, think back to that time, if you don't keep on top of things well we can a figure out where that can go.
There are kids who are going home to Mom or Dad passed out drunk or stoned on the couch, or Mom and Dad being "TOO BUSY" to talk give the kid some money and snd them on their way.
There are kids being badly abused at home, and lash out at ANY authority figure that they KNOW can't touch them.
Parents do have to take back their power with their kids, I agree, but where is the line ? What constitutes abuse and what constitutes discipline, I've heard some saying that GROUNDING a kid is abusive, what is that all about ?
When Brittany Spears and Christina Aguleria (?) have become our children's role models, or those horrid Bratz dolls that advocate being a fashionista instead of smarter than the boys, or how about the sports stars that have been charged for drug possetion or those rappers that glorify gun violence or the rock stars ( Marilyn Manson comes to mind) that glorify the evil in the world, we were in trouble.
Parents allowing their daughters to go to school dressed like hookers in the name of fashion and freedom ? Give me a break. Or allowing their sons to walk around with their underwear hanging out, how about letting your teen get tattoos and body piercings whether you like it or not?
Did these parents LISTEN to that young woman last week ? She wanted to hear the word "NO" she wanted limits, children NEED them, so we as parents have to STEP UP and take our power back, I truly belive the really rotten kids are the MINORITY,lets start focussing on the MAJORITY of kids who might be just lost and confused, a lot like us parents at times.
