By G.I.N.A (Game Is Not Allowed)

Parenting can be a mentally, physically, and emotionally draining, roller coaster ride full of daunting twists and turns. It is the most thankless volunteer work you will ever perform (yes it is a j-o-b) without a vacation or sick day to spare. It can also be one of the most fulfilling experiences in life. With the consequences for failure so high, why don’t more people take the role of parenting seriously?

Recently I watched as a beautiful young lady, no more than sixteen, degrade herself. She was loud, obnoxious, rude, vulgar and sexually explicit as she flirted with a young man about her age. Not only were there a number of adults within range of her spectacle but there were children as young as four years old present. What was equally disturbing was that the child’s mother was right there!

In the midst of this debauchery my one thought was “I am glad my child is not here right now.” Although the situation saddened me, there was no shock value because these episodes are too commonplace.

As responsible parents we have become accustomed to the outrageous shenanigans of many youth today. All that’s left for us to do is shake our heads in disgust and pray for the child (and parent). Not to suggest that good parenting always equals perfect children but most children who come from discipline and structure generally stand out from those who don’t. So the question remains: what’s up with the parenting skills of our generation? Have we become so self involved that our flesh and blood doesn’t take precedence?

Today’s youth are growing up without the basic fundamentals that help guide them through life. Cornerstones such as manners, self-control, humility, and respect are lost on an age group that we will one day depend on to keep our society thriving. The “village” has ceased raising the children and incompetence has taken over as guardian. The result; children in kindergarten toting guns, eleven year olds charged with murder, bright adolescents with hopeful futures contracting HIV all because there is no one around to care, pay attention or listen.

The pressures of childhood haven’t changed. Our children face the same obstacles of sex, drugs, alcohol, and peer pressure we did, but we were lucky. We came up in an era where the “village” helped raise us. Sure we would step out of line, but we were also very aware that if any adult within a five block radius of our homes caught us there would be hell to pay; Not only for “acting up” but also for embarrassing our parents.

There was one thing we all learned very early in life, one piece of knowledge ingrained in our youthful subconscious-fear. That fear didn’t always keep us on the straight and narrow but it did help us to be mindful of the cornerstones: respect your elders, mind your manners, and watch your mouth. We knew the slightest indiscretion would be paid for with blood, sweat and tears…ours.

These days, children don’t fear anything, not authority, consequences and definitely not their parents. They aren’t taught the weight of failure so they’ll work hard to succeed. They don’t fear death, so there is no respect for life. We are sending our children out into the world with no regard for themselves or humanity and they are destroying their lives before they get a chance to truly live.

Most importantly, we need to pray (long and hard) for our children and ourselves. Ask that God give us the strength and tenacity to raise decent human beings in frightening times. Pray that God protects and watches over our young ones, ask Him to guide their thoughts, words and actions. Let’s teach our children the most essential cornerstone, faith. Give them the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth so they can learn what the creator expects from them. Our youngsters are sponges that absorb everything we do, if we stand strong in faith and lead by example we are giving them a better start.

None of us should be going through life without the armor of God’s protection but the children in our lives are especially vulnerable, let us begin to protect and nurture them. Parents we need to wake up. It’s time to realize that the lives we bring into the world are reflections of us. The tools they need to succeed come from us first. We are supposed to want better for our children, give them what we never had, show them things we didn’t get a chance to see, protect them from the evils of this world for as long as we can. These are our children, they are our future, let’s teach them well so they can lead the way.

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