Something has to be done about some of our younger citizens. I do not know what the answer is right now, nor how to implement anything for it, but something must be done.

But here is what I see as the problems or trends pushing the youth in the wrong direction. (Please note this is not in all cases or even possibly a majority, it is just an observation from where I sit.)

Too much time: If “idle hands are the devils playground” then we are providing too much opportunity for inappropriate behavior on behalf of our youth.

Too little supervision: If “when the cat’s away, the mice shall play” then we need to be present more in our children’s lives.

Too little discipline: If we “spare the rod and spoil the child” excessively, we need to find a fresh hickory switch and instill some values where it counts. (Please, I am being metaphorical here.)

Too little example: If we never “lead by example” then how will our children know what is proper and what is not? If we as parents are not taking an interest in anything then neither will our children.

Too much entitlement: If everything is “our god given right” and we and our children do not have to work for it, everything is expected and nothing is earned.

Too little value: If we do not instill “the value of a dollar” into our children they will forever think it has no value. Thus, they see no need to earn a dollar for any work they may do, hence not care about the job.

Too little respect: If the children cannot “honor thy mother and father” they cannot respect them. No respect means no value to the lessons their fathers or mothers may want to teach them.

Too little self-respect: If children cannot “respect themselves” then how will they every feel good about themselves. And if they are not feeling good about themselves, why should they care about anyone else other than themselves.

I am sure there are many more reasons that the kids of today are lacking the kind of restraint and discipline that most of us grew up with, but this short list should do as a starting point. If any one of these issues were dealt with I think that we would see some really amazing results, for it occurs to me they are all part of good parenting. Let’s face it, this is where the problem stems from.

Who can blame us though for falling down on the job. Both parents today have to work to maintain a household, one income just will not do. We have to be successful at work so we can provide for the children. After all, they kids have to have the latest video games and stuff. We would be failures if we could not drive them around in the best SUV money could buy. We have to trust that the children will teach themselves how to be good citizens, and by all means we must trust the schools to instill our values on them. After all, aren’t the schools the surrogate parents we cannot be because our daughters need the latest fashion in jeans and our sons the newest high-tops we must provide by being at work? If we are forever as parents trying to keep up with Jones’s, and the Jones’s are doing a piss-poor job of raising the kids I guess it is ok to do a piss-poor job of raising the kids.

On the other hand there are many communities (read ethnic or cultural) where there is far less prevalence of problems with the younger generation. Why is that? Not to praise conservatives unduly, but it is because of more traditional upbringings of the children. The parents in these communities are more involved in their children’s lives. The parents spend more time with the kids and get involved in their activities too. Some of these communities stress schooling above all else and teach work ethic. Some of these communities are heavily religious and thus an ethic and moral code are taught early on thus providing the youth with a moral and ethical compass. But the key in every case is the level of parental involvement.

There may be some lessons for us to learn as parents if we just open our eyes and look at successful and disciplined families around us. That is if we care that our children grow up as respected and well meaning members of the community.