My son Paul turned 4-years-old today.
That’s pretty good, and I’m glad he made it that far and I’m glad I made it that far.
Parenting today is tough, but then when hasn’t it been? I guess we sometimes have this nostalgic view of a bygone era, maybe when the wife stayed home with the kids and the husband went off to work. Of course today that’s the exception as opposed to the norm, and more women are working than ever before. What’s more, many families are working two jobs…and I’m not sure yesterday was ever better than today anyways.
Kids suffer today because of this. They get shunted off to activities or are held in daycares and after-school programs longer. Is it any wonder that parents are spending about 36 minutes a day with their kids, on average, and just 8 hours a week?
People in America are overworked and stressed-out and that’s translating right down to our kids. We know that we’re slipping behind other, “less advanced” nations when it comes to education, and I feel it’s the deterioration of our home lives that’s doing it. I blame our consumer society, it’s insistence upon debt, and the idea that we have to work all… the…time.
But…parents in China were doing that too, just without the debt. I guess it’s that they’re more driven, more focused, and don’t mess around. Kids study there, but here they don’t. Why is that? I’d say bad parenting. I never took a class on parenting in school. The closest I came was taking an elective psychology class in university called Early Childhood Development, and that just to pick up girls. I got an ‘F’ for my efforts.
That’s pretty good, and I’m glad he made it that far and I’m glad I made it that far.
Parenting today is tough, but then when hasn’t it been? I guess we sometimes have this nostalgic view of a bygone era, maybe when the wife stayed home with the kids and the husband went off to work. Of course today that’s the exception as opposed to the norm, and more women are working than ever before. What’s more, many families are working two jobs…and I’m not sure yesterday was ever better than today anyways.
Kids suffer today because of this. They get shunted off to activities or are held in daycares and after-school programs longer. Is it any wonder that parents are spending about 36 minutes a day with their kids, on average, and just 8 hours a week?
People in America are overworked and stressed-out and that’s translating right down to our kids. We know that we’re slipping behind other, “less advanced” nations when it comes to education, and I feel it’s the deterioration of our home lives that’s doing it. I blame our consumer society, it’s insistence upon debt, and the idea that we have to work all… the…time.
But…parents in China were doing that too, just without the debt. I guess it’s that they’re more driven, more focused, and don’t mess around. Kids study there, but here they don’t. Why is that? I’d say bad parenting. I never took a class on parenting in school. The closest I came was taking an elective psychology class in university called Early Childhood Development, and that just to pick up girls. I got an ‘F’ for my efforts.
I don’t really know where I’m going with this post, except to say that we have serious problems. If my life is going to be worse than my parents, then how is my son’s life going to be better than mine? Chances are it’s not.
So what can be done about this? I know that I can’t save for a house until I get my student loans paid off, and that might be awhile still. Many in my generation won’t get those paid off until they’re close to retirement, so we have a whole generation not buying homes, not paying property taxes. Since schools rely on property taxes, their quality will go down. I’d be better off saving and scrounging to send my son to a private school, where they have the resources, and use them to pay teachers instead of the brass at the top.
That’s the direction we’re heading, and it’s all because we’ve decided to allow this country to go right down the tubes.
How is this good for America or Montana? I think about these issues each day, and that’s sad – no one else seems to be. No one in “leadership” positions seems to be addressing these concerns. Honestly, I don’t think they care. To many, elective offices are just stepping stones, perhaps to higher offices or fancy-pants private gigs when they’re done ‘doing their time.’
It’s a real shame, and I hope you think so too. The good news is that we can change this.
It’s amazing what can happen when you start being honest. Be honest with people in power in your life, and start demanding change.
I hope when my son turns 5-years-old next year that this country is in better shape. With our current “leadership” and the people running for positions of power in 2016, however, I’m not sure any of us will see that.
So what can be done about this? I know that I can’t save for a house until I get my student loans paid off, and that might be awhile still. Many in my generation won’t get those paid off until they’re close to retirement, so we have a whole generation not buying homes, not paying property taxes. Since schools rely on property taxes, their quality will go down. I’d be better off saving and scrounging to send my son to a private school, where they have the resources, and use them to pay teachers instead of the brass at the top.
That’s the direction we’re heading, and it’s all because we’ve decided to allow this country to go right down the tubes.
- People are working more, but they’re more unhappy than ever.
- They don’t spend time with their kids and work and debt stresses them out more than ever.
- They don’t feel like they’re moving ahead in life, indeed, they might feel like they’re falling further and further behind.
How is this good for America or Montana? I think about these issues each day, and that’s sad – no one else seems to be. No one in “leadership” positions seems to be addressing these concerns. Honestly, I don’t think they care. To many, elective offices are just stepping stones, perhaps to higher offices or fancy-pants private gigs when they’re done ‘doing their time.’
It’s a real shame, and I hope you think so too. The good news is that we can change this.
- Question a lot more and don’t just accept what you’re told.
- Look people in the eye and challenge them.
- Tell your circumstances and how much they affect your life.
It’s amazing what can happen when you start being honest. Be honest with people in power in your life, and start demanding change.
I hope when my son turns 5-years-old next year that this country is in better shape. With our current “leadership” and the people running for positions of power in 2016, however, I’m not sure any of us will see that.
