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Where Have All The Parents Gone?
By Administrator | March 22, 2006
History is full of horrifying examples of the consequences of busy or absent parents. A hundred years ago unattended children roamed the streets of our nations’ cities in violent youth gangs. The presence of destructive inner city youth gangs led to Boy and Girl Scouting and church youth groups and Sunday Schools. In the 40’s and 50’s, alcohol and cars created a lethal mix resulting in drivers’ education and alcohol awareness programs. The recreational drug use of the 60’s and 70’s resulted in school anti-drug policies and related educational curriculum.
While the temptations have changed with the culture and times, one thing has not changed, no matter what the temptation dangling in front of our teens, their chances of weathering these temptations increase considerably when their parents are attentive and involved.
In my preparations for the Cyber Safety Seminar (http://cybersafetyseminar.com) it became apparent that a child who is bent on deceiving his parents concerning his internet use will be able to succeed. Most of the “simple” filters are easily skirted. (That is why I beg parents to get a sophisticated filter such as BSafe.) Community libraries and friends’ houses offer computer access, thereby allowing students forbidden from certain sites the opportunity to disobey. Children now have sophisticated codes alerting friends that parents are in the room (such as typing “911” or even typing the number “9” anywhere in a sentence). Pornography can be passed through cell phones, iPods and other MP3 players. Even the best filters will not catch all inappropriate material.
So what is a parent to do? If we can’t depend on technology to keep our children safe, how can we protect them? The answer is the same for today’s parents as it was for the turn of the century gang activity, 50’s alcohol abuse & speedsters, 60’s drug abuse and any other temptation you can think of. As a matter of fact, the answer is the same, not only for teens, but for children of all ages. We must parent our children. We must invest ourselves, not merely as a presence or even as a friend, but as a parent. Actively teach, train, warn and discipline them in an effort to help them grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We cannot do this without the investment of large amounts of time. You have to be around to effectively parent.
While children were joining gangs, mixing alcohol and driving, experimenting with drugs or whatever their chosen destructive path; I wonder where the parents were? A better question is: While your children are journeying to adulthood – will you be there for them?
Mark and Ellen Strohm
Topics: From Mark | 2 Comments »
April 4th, 2006 at 8:05 pm
Glad you enjoy it Connie – welcome!
February 5th, 2007 at 5:17 am
Good Day!
I am a young educator in a Catholic Institution here in the Philippines. Although I am a Full time College Computer Instructor, i handled grade 4 computer subject in our school. I have encountered some problems with the children such us mentioning pornographic web sites. In addition, children spend more longer time on Internet Cafe playing computer games when suppose to be their in their homes studying.
Personally I know what are the negative effects these could have on Children, thus I made a proposal to conduct Parents Awareness Seminar on the parents of these children.
As I’m browsing on the Internet for more materials to be used on these seminar, I encounter your web site.
If you could help me on my topic and give me insights on what should I do to make my presentation more effective, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you so much.