I'm afraid this is another example of the consequences of lousy parenting. A short piece was in the news today about two 19-year-olds who had escaped from a drug treatment facility in southern Utah and were found in Arizona. Sometimes kids don't have much of a chance. One's single mother was on disability (for what, we don't know since the mother was seen running with her dog), but couldn't be bothered getting her 5th grader to school. He would show up sporadically, usually just before lunch, sometimes having walked (a long way). When asked why he was so late, his answer was often that his mother had slept over at her boyfriend's and wasn't home.
I could post about stuff like this for months, but I won't. It is too distressing. Maybe I'll try and find some really excellent examples of solid parents raising responsible, hard-working children. I know there are some out there because I've met many of them. I hope there are enough.
9 comments:
I read this article today in our local paper. Makes you wonder and worry about families today yet I know of many good families very dedicated to their children and setting good examples. I also know of good parents whose kids rebel and get into lots of trouble even though they are supervised, etc.
Thank goodness I didn't come across too many of those irresponsible parents in my teaching career but perhaps that's just because of the neighborhood I was teaching in. We had low income kids but on the whole, the parents really cared about their children. I feel so sad when I hear about these horrible parents.
Don't get me started! When I was teaching it was invariably the parents that caused the problems, one way and another. Of course there were some excellent parents, plenty of okay parents, but oh so many poor parents. So often though this is a result of the poor parenting they received themselves, their children don't stand much of a chance, and nor will the next generation.
We can only hope that this is not the "Circle of Life" sung about in the Lion King....
There's such wisdom in a child being raised by a Village. Unfortunately, we don't live in villages any longer. There isn't the support of extended family, neighbors, a community as a whole. Many parents are just overwhelmed... Many were never shown enough parenting in their own youths to know what's expected of them... Many were left to raise themselves... or to be influenced by whomever they met walking the street on the way to or from school. The circle of life??? I pray not.
Being a parent is the absolute best thing that ever happened to me. Sure, there have been some rough times, and I'm sure there will be more, but being a mother is my greatest joy. It appalls me to read about things such as what you've shared. Hopefully the children that were raised the right way will be strong enough to carry on where we have left off. Maybe.
There are too many parents who don't put their children's needs before their own..sad and it makes me angry.
Wishful thinking at times as this society is proving us wrong. I too come from a good background and was taught how to be a respectful person. I look around and can't help but feel that the very things I believed in are becoming a 'dying breed'. We have lost control of our children, our finances, our health, ourselves....
Nobody is taking responsibility for their actions. You chose to have a family, be responsible enough to raise a them well. Like you Jo, I could go on for days, but I won't....
I wanted you to know you are not alone..
And after months had passed and you were done posting about this, I could pick up the thread and keep it going for several more months.
However, if you read my post today and you'll see that I'm totally frustrated with a parent right now. I promised to post some nicer things about better parents later on and I will, so check back later too.
www.chocolateandotherthings.blogspot.com
There should be a bumper sticker that says, 'Be A Parent!'
Many of today's parents care more about their own personal lives, and the kids come 2nd.
It makes me crazy!
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