Posted by Lucky on November 28, 2005 at 17:53:09 (PST):
In Reply to: Re: Burnt Kid posted by jf on November 28, 2005 at 16:43:18 (PST):
: You don't know the whole situation here, were they playing around, was it a dare or was it just meanness? The kids of today have it very hard, the world we are in forces them to grow up rapidly. One big thing that causes kids to get in trouble and always has is peer pressure, they are many times forced to do something they know is not right but do it to please the crowd.Most people think their kids are good and it is always some one else's kids who gets in trouble. The teen experts say drugs are the big thing in Armstrong County whereas it used to be booze.I know of people that supervise their kids constantly, don't let them watch certain programs and join church groups etc., yet some of these kids turn to drugs, crime and etc. I don't know if there is a real key, maybe luck in some instances. You have to let the kids know what is right and wrong and what you expect of them. Let them know they won't be a teenager except for a few years then move into adulthood.Let them know you love them but they( and not you) are responsible for their actions. Make them work for what they want, just don't hand everything over to them. Learn to praise them and not be critical of everything they do but at the same time point out mistakes they make and try to show them another way to do something and get a good result.Hug them, tell them you love them and show them the good things in the world not always stressing the bad ones. Make God, church and family important to them. Eat together when you can. Do things as a family when you can but all you can do is really hope what they have experienced and what you have shown them will get them through the tough times and remember they will always be your children and need your help and love.
It sounded like meanness the way the article was written. I know some people will think some of your suggestions sound corny, but coming from a 'broken home', I can say that eating dinner with the family meant a lot to me growing up. I also see a lot of advertisements on tv saying to eat dinner together as a family. Growing up, at one parents house we kind of ate when we were hungry, but at the other parents house we had to sit down at the table together. That has stayed with me. I told my husband when we moved in together that I have no list of 'rules' to give him, but I did ask if he would be sure we sat at the table for dinner every night, even if we were just having sandwiches. Little things sometimes mean a whole lot.