To Busy To Parent-Time to Step Up

It is funny how I can draw from a discussion in my MBA class to write a blog post. Our topic this week is about Memes. Memes are the advertisements we all see in social media like: Grumpy Cat. Grumpy Cat I must say is really funny. In the discussion we are all trying to determine whether or not there should be a moral component to memes and advertising in our society. As I did my assignment yesterday I brought up the idea that part of the problem is a parental problem.

How did parents get to be the blame you may ask. A good friend of mine the other day brought up the topic of Justin Beiber and 3rd grade girls being upset about him being arrested. It was of my opinion that they new about what happened and was upset about it because they had been allowed to watch certain TV and social media that in my opinion is not appropriate for their age. I remember my first celebrity crush was Christopher Reeve. I saw Superman at the age of 10. Girls in the 3rd grade are 8 and 9 years old.

My daughter was in the car with me when I heard about JB's arrest on the radio. She knows who he is. She has a fondness for him sort of. She has a headband with his face on it. Though she heard the announcement she didn't bat an eye. She could care less. I don't allow her to watch mainstream media or use social media at her age. I feel it's inappropriate. She has plenty of time to have crushes on crazy celebrities and decide for herself if they are good role models for her.

I think the problem is what we all have heard many times before: Parents want to be friends and not parents but I think it goes deeper than that. Parents are busy. I get it. I'm busy too. Parents are so busy trying to keep up with the Joneses in America that they stop taking the responsibility of raising their children. Does your child really need a $200 pair of sneakers or do they need to be taught the value of a dollar? Does your child really need to watch TV shows with kids older than they are with content that is not age appropriate or do they need there mom and dad to sit with them and have discussions on values and morals?

The youth of today behave in some outrages ways because no one is watching them. I remember the first time Oprah had a group of kids on her show. These kids were all talking about the sexual acts they were performing for each other at the age of ten like there was nothing wrong with it. I'm not going to sit here and say that when we were kids people weren't doing these things. That would be like saying, kids weren't doing drugs, drinking and smoking when I was a kid. Lies and vicious rumors. What I will say is, when we were kids what you were doing sexually was kept hush hush because there was a social taboo about certain things. There were many taboos when we were growing up. There are none now. In our society according to the youth of today there is a free for all. Anything and everything goes. There is no shame in their game.

I hear about the stupid things these kids are doing and I shriek. The cinnamon choking videos. OMG! Can you say dumb? I think it's time all of us parents step up to the plate and start guiding these kids in the right direction. Not everything our parents generation did was bad. Some of us spend so much time trying to not be our parents we've missed the point. I work hard at not being completely like my mother. We didn't have a great relationship, but not everything she did was wrong. I make sure the things I lacked from my mother Harmonie gets. I discipline but I try to give her an opportunity to make the right choice first. My mother just smacked you and kept it moving. I am far from perfect as a parent. I am learning new ways of doing things everyday. I am realizing how my flaws play out in our day to day life. I am constantly attempting to make adjustments. I am proactive. Parenting is a non-stop job. There is no manual. Damn it! Who's idea was that? We all have to figure this thing out ourselves. Or do we? We parents need to reach out to each other and help each other out through this journey. We all should tell the truth about how things really are so that we can help someone else. That is my mission.

Parents stop worrying about your kid liking you 24 hours a day. Stop trying to be their friend. Stop allowing them to do whatever they want. Start remembering that if you don't raise them society and the media will. These kids will not be with you forever. They will be sent out into the world eventually and then what? They won't be prepared to survive without you and it will be on you to take responsibility for that. Give your kids guidance. Teach them right from wrong. Feed them age appropriate information and allow them to grow up gradually. They grow up so fast as it is. Start today! Pay attention to what they are watching and doing. Explain to them that what they may have seen on TV or online may not be the best choices for them to make. There is no: "Don't try this at home" disclaimer anymore in the media. It is up to us now to teach our children that what they see is not to be copied if it isn't intelligent and safe. The media will continue to make reality stars that have no brains stars and they will continue to be role models unless we stand up and teach our kids to be confident in who they are and not try to be someone else. We need to teach our kids to stand tall and do the right things in life. Love themselves enough to not fall for pure pressure and only do what is right for them. If we don't step up as parents our children are doomed and so is our society. Remember these are the people that will be in charge when we are to old to take care of ourselves. What kind of society do you want to live in when you are in retirement? Just something to think about.

What values do you see that is lacking in our American society today? Do you agree or disagree that mainstream media and social media play a huge part in how the young generation behaves? Do you agree or disagree that there are no more social taboos that keep us all in line? Is morality an important thing to teach our children or not? Do you agree or disagree that parents today need to take a step back, re-evaluate what they are making important and re prioritize for the sake of their kids. Do you agree or disagree that parents today need to take responsibility for the way children behave today or is it someone Else's fault? I would love to hear your thoughts.