There's a commercial out now that drives me up the friggin wall! I won't go into details, but these two little girls want to negotiate with their mother. This commercial, along with others, puts the kid in charge. Let's face it, I see it everywhere. Moms and Dads hand over the reigns to the little one that can't even wipe their own butt.
The first time I saw that commercial I said, "This is what's wrong with America." Now granted, I don't know the social status of the other countries in the world, but I can say that this is how it is here in the good ole U.S. of A. Kids have been taking charge of homes since Dr. Spock. No, not the Star Trek dude, the psych that decided we should care more about how our child feels at the beginning stages of life, than how they will behave and feel as little adults. Today we see a return to this thing called discipline, but it seems to still be the minority of choices for parents. Sad, I know. At least I know there are parents that are choosing to look beyond the moment. That's all it is. Having structure, rules, disciplinary actions, etc are all just making the time to realize that your children are going to grow. They will grow into the children you create them to be. They will grow into the teenagers you design. They will go off to adulthood as the people you destined them for. Don't you ever think of that? I can't stop thinking about it. Recently I had an encounter with a small child. While I was standing to one side of a door, the child pushed his way through, putting his grubby paws on my butt cheek. He never said a word, just did that grunting whine thing that small children do - and I can't stand. There was more than enough space to go past on the other side, but he thought it best to push his way through. He walked another two feet to get to the water fountain where he mounted a step stool and began to play around in the water. I began to speak to him saying that there was no reason to push and he could have gone around and used words. At that point his older sister came out. She asked what was going on and I told her. She turned to her brother and said, "You shouldn't do that." That was all. I finished my snack, threw the trash in the can and walked away with the final words, "Wow, that was some apology. You need to learn how to treat people." I know who the children belong to. In my anger, I didn't approach the father, but eventually Charlie spoke to him. The response was, "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll talk to him about it." Dude, talk is cheap. This is what we're raising? Kids can push whoever they want? Kids around allowed to make a fist and punch an adult in the butt as they shove their way through? Kids are running the show far too often. What is the point of being a parent if you just want the kids to be in charge? Parents, stop negotiating. You're the adult, act like it. You're in charge, not them. Sure they have options - red juice or blue? Batman pajamas or TMNT? Listen or get a spanking? See, we can give them choices. But at the end of the day, what they do and say should be a reflection of how you have raised them. Yes, you must raise them. It is their future I think about. Sometimes I see my son at the age of 16. I see his long lanky features, and the attempts of gaining muscle from his mother's side. I see his heart. I know if we keep this path, my son will be a loving, caring 16 year old that is ok spending time with his family. I can see the good he does for the world, while surprising many. I see a beautiful, tall teenage AJ at times as well. She has her moments of frustration as teenage girls do, but overall she loves fiercely, fights for the weak, and stuns many. It's more than manners I'm hoping to instill in my children. I want them to grow into people that others want to emulate. I will always push for that. And for right now, it means that I am in charge of them. I make the call. Will you?
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AuthorI have a lot to say about a lot of things. Archives
May 2023
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