Quote Originally Posted by Pintado View Post
Some really good points coming out in this one. I happen to agree with the it’s not the gun that kills people philosophy. Or it’s not the movie, or it’s not the video game. I do believe it’s the lazy parent who doesn’t have the time to teach their kid respect, manners, and a sense of right from wrong. Proper behavior, how to address adults in a polite respectful manner. I think a lot of the parents today are too busy with their own life they neglect passing these lessons to their offspring.
Quote Originally Posted by frankykeno View Post
Parenting isn't easy, it is something that makes you have to deal with things you'd really rather not deal with sometimes, it interrupts your love life, sleep becomes optional, worry becomes as normal a day to day experience as brushing your teeth is, it makes your clothing choices drop for a time to "will puke show on this color". In other words, it's the best thing I've ever done.

I'd love the luxury of blaming the school, tv, video games, their friends, society, the latest pop star and on and on but the fact is in the end....the greatest influence in their lives are the adults that raise them. It's nice to think you can blame someone else (our society loves to do so) but in the end, you look in the mirror and you have to know it's up to you to set down the best guidelines and role model you can for them. It doesn't always work but that doesn't give those of us that chose to be parents any right to excuse ourselves from trying.

I believe three things as a parent....

1) that I am trying to raise children that will become people I would be proud to call my friend, not just my child

2) that my kids will have tons of friends.....they have only one mom so I need to be mom now, and friend later

3) that society should not be stuck dealing with my unruly children, then adults, just because I couldn't be bothered to be a decent parent.

Pretty much everything else above that is gravy.
These are right on the mark, as a good start.