Youth in Jeopardy

Why are our children in such a hurry to grow up? Why are younguns looking like 30-year-old men and women? More importantly, what is the rush to get be older? Hell, I’m grown and it’s far more than I can stand to deal with at times. A demanding full time job; being a single parent, and giving my hard earned money to some fool named bill with whom I’d rather not have a relationship. I highly doubt I’d want to be a child in this day and age, but to not have all the responsibilities I currently do; yeah, I’d take that. So, again I ask, “what’s up with these kids wanting to be so damn grown?

I recently witnessed the horrifying effects of a teen thinking she was grown and it broke my heart, which left me wondering are we failing our children or has society given license to such foolish ways of thinking. So here’s my dime of opinion.

Children are shown images of lush and lavish lifestyles without being taught they need to have an education and eventual gainful employment in order to maintain said lifestyle.

By the time our children have graduated high school, they’re already receiving credit card applications without being taught fiscal responsibility and the adverse effects of a negative credit report.

We’re giving our children endless amounts of designer and name brand clothes, shoes, purses, etc., of which they probably will not be able to afford and/or maintain when they’re in college or off on their own.

We’re teaching our daughters the importance of their looks instead of the importance of their brains henceforth starting the “princess” complex, which leads to them neglecting their education or expecting to get by in life on their looks.

Our sons aren’t being taught how to be men of substance instead of solely full of testosterone and the higher the bed count the better.

Our sons think being an athlete or rapper is their means of success instead of having something else to all back on. What happens when an injury occurs? Or how about not being able to secure the record deal? Misguided thought processes at their finest.

Collectively, our children are force fed the media’s hype of who they are and parents aren’t taking an active role and stand in developing their children.

To name a few...

Now, don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of parents who are playing their part, advocating discipline, education and such; however, their children are just down right defiant and challenge what they’re being taught. These are the children I fear for the most. I fear for the teen that thinks because they’re now 18 affords them certain rights and privileges and that they can make it on their own. They’ve not yet realized that they’ll need to get and maintain a car to get to/from work, an ability to balance a bank account in order to afford gas, rent, food, clothes, healthcare, etc.

Too many children are misled, misguided, and down right confused about the real world and will unfortunately be cashing some really huge reality checks before they realize that their parents were doing them a favor by enforcing rules, maintaining discipline, and continually being a hands on. Bailing a child out every time they’re in trouble only perpetuates dependency and irresponsible behavior. There are consequences to bad behavior and it’s best to receive it at the hands of a caring and meaningful parent than at the hands of law enforcement, the credit bureau, an abusive boy or girlfriend, or even death.

As a parent, I’m forced to rule with an iron fist at times and I have no qualms about it. I don’t sugar coat shit and call it candy for my child. I know the importance of providing a good foundation for her to stand on so she can do well in life. I’m sometimes happy when my daughter is forced to learn the hard way or see things for herself that I've told her, so she can understand that certain actions will cause her more harm than good. I intervene and argue with what society says about what my child should or shouldn’t have or should or shouldn’t do. Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, or some other tart will not be her role model. Men, who abuse their girlfriends or wives even in the most subtle of ways, are unacceptable mates for her. Men with no drive or ambition, but have good looks aren't quality men. Without a doubt, I fall short at times, but parenting is a learning process and sometimes we have to learn together as parent and child. I can and will say this though, I chose to be a parent and therefore, it’s my responsibility to provide her with the tools and resources she’ll need to succeed. A good education is essential, being proactive in her own life, taking chances, making a change, and striving for success and happiness in her own life are the things I know she’ll need.

So far, I guess I’ve fared well and hope to God that we both continue as mother and child against the world. I pray other parents are equally successful with their child. I especially pray for those parents who are doing everything in their power to raise their children well and are defied every step of the way. I firmly believe that we all need to take an active stand with our children, siblings, nieces, nephews or any child in our lives because it really does take a village to raise a child. We truly need to revert back to some old school ways before our children are more doomed than they’re already showing signs of being.