Parenting in Today's Society

This week, I went to the local Big Brother & Big Sister office for my interview in hopes of becoming a Big Sister. I have been wanting to volunteer my time for several years and now that my children are older I am able to give my time more freely to others.

As most of us know, the children who enter the BB & BS program often come from backgrounds that are traumatic and violent. The interviewer and I discussed the types of children that come into this program as well as my comfort level in dealing with a children that has been, say, sexually abused or comes from a home of substance abuse. Having not dealt with children of these types of backgrounds, of course, lead to many questions by me.

During this discussion, I couldn't help but feel for these children, yet I also felt compelled to kick some parental ass. Forgive me for being so blunt, but really- have you seen today's youth?

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not an old biddy who grew up in the ice age- I'm a mere thirty years old and it wasn't that long ago that I too was a youth. When I grew up- it was still safe to ride your bike around the neighborhood, walk home from school, and be a well-adjusted child in a caring community. These days, I'm constantly on the look-out for potential dangers for my own children. I've lived in a small farming community, a major metropolitan area and now the suburbs Chicago- I'm well-rounded when it comes to different communities and life styles and I have to wonder if it's the environment (i.e- city vs. 'burbs vs. small country town) that control the practices of parents or are parents these days just plain lazy.

In the summer I can look out my window and easily see a three-year-old child riding their tricycle in the road while mom and dad are no where to be seen. Seriously, Mr. Obvious says that this is a no-no. What about the teenagers who roam the subdivision with their bottles of spray paint and pockets of stolen goods? Where are the parents at? Aren't they supposed to be teaching these kids the basics of right and wrong or are they too busy at the local bar drinking their lunches?

Of course, let's not forget the little things. Growing up, warm weather meant playing in the backyard using our imaginations (that wonderful thing that corporate, mass-producing toy/video companies are slowly stealing from our youth). Now, the lazy parent sits their child in front of Sponge Bob Square Pants (which in my house in banned) and the latest shoot 'em up vidoe game. Can you imagine these techno-raised children being our future leaders? Egads!

I am by no means a perfect parent, but I can honestly say I have common sense. In my house, when rules are broken, there are consequences. Television/video games et, al. are privledges, not rights. Warm weather means backyard fun and we always wear our helmet and knee pad when we ride our bikes on the sidewalk.

Is it too much to ask that if you choose to have sex (therefore choosing, in a sense, to bear a child) that you be responsible for said child? I think not. Get your lazy butts off the couch, off the computer, and out of the bars and take responsiblity for your children. Do it before it's too late.