Concerned Father question

[roadman]

Re: Concerned Father question

But, don't you think that has as much or more to do with our culture than our parenting?

I was the same as you... hell... I pretty much left home on the first day of summer vacation and came home the day before school started (not literally mind you). We had 3 month long baseball games that traveled to every good spot in town (and I spent most of those years in an area of Michigan that is actually quite large -- 100,000+).

I think kids today dedicate their summer more to their MLB2K7 Dynasty than they do their game with their friends.

I think community is different than it was. Hell, I'm 33 years old and I have more "close friends" here at OS than I do in my neighborhood... many of which I have never met face-to-face.

It's a different world.

Your right, that is more of a by-product of our culture vs parenting, which in effect, affects parenting to some degree.

The world has changed since you and I grew up.

[Emjay]

Re: Concerned Father question

As a teenager , I played baseball in the summertime from 9:00am till dusk. I don't see that happening with the neighborhood kids anymore.

How true. Back when I was growing up, one form of punishment was making us stay in the house all day. Now, punishment is making kids go outside.

I joke to my co-workers that the only way you can make teenagers (especially mine) go outside these days, is if you burn the house down. Sometimes you can't even be sure about that.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Concerned Father question

Matrix --

That's a good post, however, I would disagree with one statement:

"The problem nowadays is the trust and communication level between parents and their kids. Yes, the kids (especially when they get into their teenage years) are more likely to do things and cover them up, but when there is a trust developed between the parent and their child from a young age, it helps situations like these."

This is not a new issue. Trust and communication is not something that is lacking in this generation. Just because you heard about it less 10...20...even 50 years ago... didn't mean it didn't happen.

I think people assume the world is more dangerous today. I don't believe that's the case. 20 years ago when I was 13:
- Cars were not as safe as they are today
- Drug and Alcohol possession laws (including DUI) were not enforced nearly as hard as they are today
- It was far more difficult to stay in touch with your child away from home (no cell phones)

The list goes on, but I think today's society is actually more padded than it was two decades ago.

Furthermore, I believe kids and parents today actually have as good or better communication than the same dynamic 20 years ago because topics that you would NEVER discuss with your parents in 1987 are on the Disney Channel in 2007.

Well I guess part of my thought on that is seeing how people I know around me act with their parents. I take pride in surrounding myself with people who have the same sort of values as I do. The people I'm not as close to though, have horrible relationships with their parents and siblings. It's really quite pathetic.

Maybe it's been like that for more than my 19 years here on Earth, but I guess this is my period of reference, so it's what I know first-hand.