Our Children's Reality Today

Statistically; drug use, teen pregnancy, and violence are at an all time high. Simultaneously, never before in history have both women and men worked more hours. Cause and effect? I promise you this, no one can parent my son like I can. Period. Baring given extreme scenarios, I don't believe this to be unusual. Hey moms. Dads. Let's go back to the basics. I don't care which parent is home when the kids get out of school, just as long as someone is present. One plus one is two and two is our next generation of decision makers. Our children need us to repriortize our day to day life structure. Let's get rigorous with our realities. I encourage all parents to create a sustainable life structure which allows greater presence in the lives of our children, and by doing so helping our kids keep their heads above water in today's sea of temptation and deceit. All kids will ever remember or care about is whether we were there or whether we weren't. What are some of the best memories you have with your family?

Excuses and Justifications

When I picked up Drew from school yesterday, he asked if he could play there at the school playground with some other kids. I agreed as we parked. We opened the back and pulled out a small arsenal of toys at the ready (ie. frisbee, soccerball, etc.). Shortly thereafter a healthy game of kickball broke out and all was right with the world. At this point all other children had left. Some time later the doors to the school opened and out came approximately twenty or so kids. In an odd turn of events, girls were screaming hello to Andrew as boys and girls came running out to play. Nearly a half dozen or so gathered up on the actual playground area vs. the dual purpose playground parking lot. Suddenly, a lady with a red YMCA shirt comes up and begins agressively yelling in the girls faces who were all huddled together talking. Apparently, it was not okay for them to be up there.

Excuses and justifications can be made for this caregivers actions. Perhaps she had told them they are not allowed up there multiple times previously. Or maybe there are too many kids for so few caregivers to adequately manage. Or perhaps she is simply underpaid and under appreciated. Nevertheless, in my opinion it is never appropriate for any caregiver to yell in the face of child. Much less, a child not your own. A nearby mother chimes in making me aware of the established reputation of two particular YMCA after-school care providers. With the YMCA having such an established reputation parents could easily justify working a few more hours in order to make a few more bucks while these sweet golden resume yielding ladies watched after their children. Undertone and hardship circumstances aside, I have to ask...Who and what are the priorities of these parents? I'm speaking to the parents who choose to have both parents working to make over six figures a year, while their children are raised by others. Would those parents continue with the same established priorities if they truly knew the way caregivers were behaving?

Our children need their parents, not a substitute teacher. Let's get in the game.

Cost of Our Choices

What are the cost of the choices we make as they relate to our children? What's the cost of the choice to work more hours in order to make more money? Who pays for your absence? Could you make less and be more present and available? Who pays when we justify pushing personal financial boundaries? Could we pull back on the spending, live below our means, and lead our children by being an example of financial responsibility. If we can afford the nicer things in life, that's great, but not to the point of irresponsibility. There's a balance between ambition and career security and being an active presence in the lives of our children. This is for each of us to carefully consider. As a culture we need to gain enough self-confidence to put our egos and pride down, hold ourselves accountable, and begin to truly see how we're living and the impact we're having on the youth of America. The next generation of decision makers needs our experience and our leadership now more than ever. Let's get in the game.