| Today's teens and children are not only victims within | | | | what we are about and there is no family time, |
| their own home where you find the typical | | | | children often spend more time outside the home |
| dysfunctional family, but that of society as well. | | | | with other children, and are swayed into unchartered |
| Discipline in the home is rare these days, and that is | | | | territory and there is no turning back 9 times out of |
| when they turn to their friends for support. They go | | | | 10. |
| to their peers for guidance and what they find are | | | | We have to change this behavior and all of us, |
| their lives changing for the worse. Peer pressure to | | | | regardless of whether we have children or not, need |
| fight, to steal, to take drugs is a never-ending battle | | | | to pitch in and support our children, either by |
| and it comes with a steep price. Juvenile detention, | | | | volunteering our time as a mentor or as a parent. |
| or if tried as an adult, it means jail time and viola, | | | | Take the time and listen to your children. They are |
| childhood is nothing but a distant memory. | | | | crying for attention and if we don't give them what |
| Watch television and what do you find? The answer | | | | they need, they will find another way and it's never a |
| is violence, guns, drugs, and death. This is all negative | | | | good thing. My thought is to gather children in the |
| exposure and while it sells throughout the networks, | | | | auditorium at least 1 time a week and provide outside |
| it has already left its mark on today's kids and teens. | | | | speakers on the impact of negative or violent |
| They end up with their future filled with evil and | | | | behavior, or speakers on positive self-esteem topics. |
| heinous crimes everyday. The parents blame it on | | | | Make them listen, even if it means to create smaller |
| the economy and the teachers, and the teachers | | | | groups so students feel they will get the attention |
| blame it on the parents. It becomes a "he said," "she | | | | they need. They will look forward to those sessions, |
| said" conversation and nobody wins. Why don't we | | | | and yes, some will still stray and that is all based on |
| take responsibility for our children? Clearly, it's | | | | their belief system from home or from a strong peer |
| because we as adults become so wrapped up trying | | | | group at school. |
| to stay employed, working longer hours, taking on | | | | Remember, we are all a sum total of our thoughts, |
| more responsibility and forgetting about the loved | | | | make them positive and you will see a world of |
| ones in our lives. Exhaustion and survival become | | | | difference in your life. |