Do you ever wonder how in the world you got to this point, having the conversations you have on a daily basis? Please remember I have a house full of teenage boys as you continue on.
Think of all the things you have said as a parent to your kids. Beginning when they were newborns to this very second. I am sure several conversations or “lines” pop immediately into your head. The first one that pops into my head is “don’t pee on your brothers cleat it’s in the toilet”. I mean no one without kids would ever say that right? And then there is the standard parent line “because I said so that’s why”.
But how now at 18, 16, 13 in 20018 did we get to this point, where everything that comes out of our mouth is so important, and the way you talk to your kid has to be thought about just to make sure they understand what you really mean. I never remember my mom and dad having to tell me do not to eat a tide pod, do not to shoot anyone, do not be a bully, do not to steal, do not to be rude to adults, do not disrespect authority, do not act like an idiot. I mean all those things are common sense right? Thinking about it now I don’t think we have told our kids do not do any of those things either, because hello they do half half a brain 99% of the time.
But I scares me to death every time they go out into the world, because come on lets face it the world has gone completely insane. “Hey mom I’m going to the mall” please God keep him safe. “Hey mom is it ok if I go to the movies tonight?”, please God let the policeman in the lobby be actively paying attention to the other guests. “Hey mom I’m going to stay at Billy’s house tonight” please God let them all make smart decisions. “Hey mom I’m headed back to college” Oh God help me that one is coming quick and I might not survive (totally another post). It seems that everyone has an opinion on what needs to be done to get our kids back on track. Well I’m going to give you my opinion and you might not totally agree, hell (sorry) you might not agree at all but that’s ok because it’s only an opinion. Guess what I will not be offended either – sigh…
I was not a great kid, those that know me well know all about my past and how crazy I was. You know I had a baby super young, you know I took a taxi to Athens at 14, you know or maybe you don’t that I was even a teenage bride (only good thing that came out of all that BS was Joshua) – oh don’t get me started on that either (maybe that is another post too). Anyway I was a teenager that my mom was sure was possessed at age 14 and then one day I was normal again. I assure you I was not possessed but I was a teenager pushing the limits and breaking my parents rules just like I’m sure each of you did at some point in some way. But never in my entire life; now included, did I ever think it was ok to do the things we see on the news everyday. Whether it be stupid crap kids do because they can’t think 2 seconds ahead to what might happen to them. Or the really horrible stuff that for some reason common sense should say no don’t, but their common sense doesn’t kick in.
So here is my solution – wait for it…
and like I said agree or don’t I really don’t care either way…
How many of your parents spanked you? I’m talking being told to go pick a willow branch off the tree out front or go get dads leather belt or my moms personal favorite the “spank spoon” (wooden spoon from the kitchen that was specifically for smacking your butt). Also how many of you got spanked at school? I went to MPC back in the day and “big blue” was a paddle we all knew and feared. And you know what we didn’t fear it because it hurt, I mean it did hurt – a lot, but we feared it because after it was all over you got a big hug and told how much you were loved and how capable you were of doing better, and you felt like crap because you knew you did wrong and disappointed someone who mattered to you.
So there it is, my opinion on the state of the kids in this world and how we cold have fixed it before the younger generation fell apart. You know what’s funny though? We didn’t really spank our kids but maybe a couple of times in their lives. Are they perfect, heck no, but I promise you they know right from wrong when it really matters and I promise you they have a good amount of common sense because they care what people think of them.
What do you think?
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