h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Dragonlady.

I read your article with some knowledge of what you are talking about.

It seems today that some children are not brought up with right kind of attitudes. Although this obviously does not apply to all children.

My father left us when I was 4. It became my granddads job to become our father figure. In us he instilled morals and values which have put me in good stead for life ahead.

Today children go around shouting abuse or behaving outlandishly.

Thank you for a well balanced article.

Vicki

Balance is greatly admirable, but even the males of socity get pinned down, not by there actions, but by what they don't do.

This artical is dead right about the responsabilities of parenthood and sex, to what end is love involved? with devocies and breakup's going on all the time, how can children grow up in a 'librial socity with terms and conditions?'

many children are brought up to feed themselves and are to stupid to see the world futher then what they want (now). and a direct atatude towards needs leads to a direct atatude towards solutions. no thought, no respect. the rest of us might as well be animals only fit to be humble to them of themselves.

-- DoctorMO --

The life lessons that I am trying to drum into my 8 year old son are:

Do as you would be done by (repect others).
You can't make other people do what you want.
All actions have consequences that you have to live with. Think before you act.

If he learns these three things, he'll have a happier life than most people, and all the values in the articles will come with these.

We can all be personally responsible in what we teach our children. Handing that responsibility over to the schools, or other assorted places, is a great mistake.
We also have the responsibility to teach every child in our society, by speaking out when we see someone doing something as heinous as degrading another for whatever reason.
I had difficulty, myself, in speaking to son about some things, as I felt he might resent me teaching him views that were not his. His son was degrading me with words and actions, and I had asked to deal with it, as it was obviously wrong, and very hurtful to me.
His son continued to do certain things, until I finally got so upset, that I took matters into my own hands, and talked to the boy at great length, setting boundries for his behavior toward me. (the son is going to be 15 in a couple of months). was out-of-town at the time, and I made a record of what I talked to his son about, and gave it to on his return.
seemed to be very relieved that I talked to his son. He said I did exactly as I should have done, and acted exactly as he wished he would have. It seems that although he knew what was happening was wrong, nobody ever taught him to teach the proper values. He simply assumed that his son would "pick it up along the way". When I asked how his son was supposed to learn those values when nobody had taught him, he simply said "I hadn't thought of that".
What I am saying, is although is a wonderful man, he wasn't made aware that teaching a child at home, is the way our children learn the correct behavior. Handing control of our children's moral education to others, takes away from what we teach our children, and opens the door to all of this "hatred", etc..
In many ways it wasn't fault for not teaching his son, because no one taught him. But, someone has to stop the cycle. And I think will be more open to taking an active, rather than passive, to teaching his son good moral values. Being a cop doesn't mean one's children will automatically be "good guys". They still have to be taught.

But, I rant too much.

Karen

>> But, I rant too much. <<

Never! There can never be too much 'care', there is never enough 'concern', and we can all use a little 'guidance'.
Rant on m'dear, rant on!

As I read your piece I could feel the neck-snapping sound of reality where it had hit a few young male readers in their smug macho faces.

I shall spend the rest of my day quietly pleased to know that some day, somewhere, some child will have a father because of what you have said here today. This would not even be possible if you had held your tongue, so please, rant on.


~jwf~

That "added extra-strength personality" has done something for you, Luv!

Thank-You very much for your kind words.
Karen

-- DoctorMO --