Observations

Well - Christmas day is past and so is the New Year but it is the observations of those past few weeks that has me really wondering how we are raising our children. The idea of waiting, and saving for things must be considered so outdated it is no wonder why we are having financial bailouts left and right.

At one event I overheard a mom, as she played with her Blackberry, how her children would constantly fight over the laptop computer in their home. Her solution was simply to go out and buy another one. Now it is peace and quiet and mom doesn't have to listen to the fight. Um. Did I miss something here? I simply shake my head and consider the actions of the adults and then I can understand why our youth do not have a clue. In our house, we have multiple computers and it has nothing to do with sharing issues or solving a fight and our children are not allowed to play on the computer. In our home, the computer is a tool - it is a tool for work and school. Granted I do allow the children an occasional navigational field trip to check explore Webkinz or Club Penguin but those moments are few and far between.

If I heard my kids fighting over the computer they would no longer have access. A fight over a computer is unacceptable - just as a fight over most things is. For fighting over items is irresponsible and we teach our children as such. Yeah - I have perfect kids - they do not fight over things - they fight with each other....that is for another blog on another day.

So. We have the woman that buys her kids a new laptop for fighting. Then we have the young girl who walked up to someone, and I'm thinking it was a relative because the word Aunt was used and demanded her Christmas gift. Outright said "Hey, Aunt So and So. Where is my gift." It was not said sweetly with kisses and sugar - it was more like swoop in and take and when there was no gift it was "You gave so and so theirs. I want mine." Hello? Has the meaning of the word "gift" been redefined? Nothing was said to the young girl - not by the Aunt or the parents nearby. I only shake my head in disappointment our youth are so comfortable demanding from their elders.

I see greed and waste everywhere and I think to myself "are we accustomed to so much we cannot see the value in what we have?" It is sad that we cannot look deeper and reconnect with ourselves, our children and our families and find the true motivation for our existence. We are all here for a purpose - not just to take - we must give back.

For the mom who uses things to solve the issues of parenting - I hope you have a ton of money in the bank - because buying things to make your kids stop fighting will never work. Put down your Blackberry and forget about your personal life. Look at your children and help them discover who they are and show them how fortunate they are. Go camping where you having nothing but the clothes on your back - reconnect.

For the young gal who demanded a gift. What have you done for your mom or dad? What have you done for your Aunt? Give of yourself and maybe it will be a whole lot easier for Auntie to reward your efforts.

I don't want to give up on people - as I think there is much we are able to do. I also don't have to look far to see the good works of people right here in my community. Works of those that really understand there is something greater than themselves. If you want to be inspired - check out one of my new favorite blog, Jesus on the Street.

Welcome to the new year - where we make resolutions to better ourselves. If we can better ourselves, we can better our communities.