The End of Innocence

[Beebeeblue]

E_O_D, that story in Florida happened the same week my daughter Madeline was born. To this day I snap at anyone that calls her Maddie. Poor child never knew what happened to her, and I doubt the teen never understood either.

It is a sad time when the children of today are becoming the more publicized murder cases. Even sadder when we do notice the things that they must grow up with. I just hold my baby tighter and not try keep her from seeing the evil in the world, just be sure to point out all that is good.

And, Im from the old school here I guess. My parents raised me by doing the 'spanking' thing when I did wrong. And my daughter will know the same thing. If she goes off and sets a forest on fire...god yes, she will know it. If she knocks a cup of tea on the vcr? No, its not worth it then. There are extremes that some parents go to. I see people shopping in my store carrying switches with them. And their kids are the worst behaved. Screaming, crying and yelling and dont forget running all over the damn place. And all mom does is yell back, threatening to take them to the car if they dont behave. Well , Mom, DO IT! Threats dont help any this day and age.

We can all hope that this world will be a better place one day. But it has to start in our homes. My baby knows she is loved and is a happy well-rounded child. As well as she can at her age. And I sing to her every day that new song out "I hope you dance"

*sigh*

~~BBB~~

 

[Eve_of_destruction]

I have much more hope in my heart after reading all the great replies... at least I know now that there are other parents, and brothers and sisters, who are concerned enough and empathetic enough to be doing the same things that I am doing: Trying to set a good example for our young people. Trying to raise them with love and respect, yet letting them know that there are boundaries that cannot be crossed without some form of punishment. And that's all any of us can do.

Many people commented correctly when saying that each generation feels that the generation that came after them is worse... that, other than the way kids dress nowadays, and the way they talk, that things have never really changed. And yet I beg to differ on just one thing: Kids nowadays are desensitized by all the violence and sex that they see every day, be it in video games or television or the Internet or movies, even the world news. All I had growing up was "The Brady Bunch" and Disney movies and the Beatles singing "All You Need Is Love". And I think there's enough contrast in that picture to have an understanding as to why some of our youth just don't give a damn about their fellow man.

Thanks for the opinions... WH, I sometimes think that you and Uncle Bill are one and the same person - or at least share the same soapbox! I always look forward to hearing your replies.

EOD

 

[Weird Harold]

Originally posted by eve_of_destruction:
WH, I sometimes think that you and Uncle Bill are one and the same person - or at least share the same soapbox! I always look forward to hearing your replies.

Nope, There are several things UncleBill has asid that I disagree with. I think the similarity in the opinions we do share has a lot to do with our age. I think Uncle Bill is all of about six months older than my soon to be 51.

 

[Endlessly]

I'd be happy to speak on behalf of today's youth, except for one little problem.

I don't count.

I'm not saying that without good grounds, mind you; it's something I've been told since time immemorial when people I know start lamenting the state of the youth population.

"Ummmm," I'll begin, quietly noting my few years, and the response will always be the same:

"Oh. You don't count."

It seems, from my behavior and the way people react to me, that I was born a 40-year-old in an infant's body. Go figure.

POINT is, and yes I think I've got one around here somewhere.. Just for irony's sake I've sat around with some of the men and women I hang out with and complained about these crazy kids with their long hair and their attitudes and what happened to decent respect for their elders? And they agree with me until they look at me dumbfounded and remember I'm eighteen.

How many kids do you know like me that 'don't count' when you're looking at the state of youth today? *quiet blink* I find the amount of optimism or pessimism someone has about this world is not directly related to the newspaper.. People are only as satisfied with their lives as they want to be.

Look on the bright side or change the world. *shrug* Ain't a real problem with either.

 

[Jeff726]

Amazing..... people have problems with all the sex on television yet can visit places like Lit and it not be a problem to them.