Miscellaneous

The problem with parenting today

When I take a close look at the generation coming up and the ones after it, my heart aches with excruciating pain. I feel as if we have a lost a sense of respect that has been replaced with “I don’t care I am just going to be rude, just to be rude”,”I’m 12 years old, but I’m grown”, or “I don’t have to listen to you because I don’t even listen to my own mama”, and countless other sayings that clearly make no sense.  I don’t have children, so it is apparent that I am not here telling parents how to raise their children and what-not. However, simply because I don’t have children that came out of my womb does not mean that I don’t know what it takes to raise a child. I grew up with younger siblings. I pretty much raised my younger brother and two younger cousins who were born right in front of my eyes. I have been through it all.  The waking up in the middle of the night to console or feed a crying baby; I have been to the scary and routine doctor visits; I have stayed in the hospital with sick children; I have changed diapers; I have had babies puke and pee on me countless times; I even had a baby cousin who tried to retrieve milk from my papilla mammaria. If all of that is not enough I have also taught childcare, Pre-K, and worked with elementary school age children. Needless to say, the only thing I have yet to do is grow a child in my own womb and give birth. All that being said, I think I have a fingernail size right to say a word or two about the bad parenting that is causing the outrage of disrespect in our generations. It is beyond words what children are saying and behaving like now-a-day. The factors vary from kids having kids, technology doing the jobs of humans, to parents who simply think that it is other people’s jobs to raise their children for them. It baffles me when I see children with very little to manners or respect for adults or their peers. On one side of my skull I’m thinking, “this is exactly what happens when we as a nation or the world, drops traditions for modern ways that are clearly not working, but since they require very little commitment or effort on our end, we pretend to be alright with it.” The other side of my skull-well, that is another article.

The problem with parenting today

1.  Technology is taking over:

  • I cannot count how many times I have seen children slouching on the back seat of a car with a phone or tablet in their hands and their parents are on the phone.  ” I won’t let you play with the phone”, begged a mother while her three-year old was throwing a tantrum in the grocery store aisle. Call me old fashion, but what happened to a good old, ” you’re not having it, because I said so”, or “stop it right now before I give you a real reason to misbehave”. Please, don’t get me wrong, I am not advising abuse in any way, shape or form. I am just tired of seeing children with phones, tablets and Ipods, as toys. Whatever happened to balls, blackboards and chalk, hop-scotch, those caterpillars with the ABC on their legs? The child at the store refused to stop crying and fussing, finally the parent gave her the phone and sat her on the shopping cart and all was well again. That child may never learn what it is like to work for things, that certain behaviors are not OK and that crying will not get you far in the real world. I know you are thinking ,”it was a three-year old.” Yes, and that three-year old will grow up thinking that the world (not just her mother) revolves around her crying. She will continue to cry to get her way. That may save her mom a tantrum at the store, but will cause her serious issues down the road.

I am a 26 year-old educator on the run of becoming all that I can in the time that I have. A few years ago, I embarked on a journey filled with spiritual discoveries, healthy habits, and a passion for education stronger than I've ever had. Learning what to do to become a better person have always interest me. One of my passions is to know a little about everything in order to gain the capability of forming my own opinion so others won't have to do it for me. Another passion that was buried deep inside finally came to the surface and allowed me to see the adventurous side of me. I am on a journey to see the world and do things outside of my comfort zone. I will write all about it along the way!

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