Greetings, everyone! I hope you are all doing well and sticking to your New Year's resolutions. Yeah right. Although, I do know some who are and I am very proud of them! Keep in mind this thought... You are what you eat." (Mom and grandma were right, those many years ago).
In today's world, kids have totally lost respect for not just their parents, but to everyone, it seems. It's scary and I'm not really sure how I would handle these issues, if my child was of age.
They take advantage of parents who are trying to lead them in the right direction. They are very sneaky about how to do things on the internet, with their cell phones. In fact, I don't think that kids should be allowed to have cell phones at such a young age.
Sexting? Don't even ask how I feel about that subject. It's happening all around us, every minute of every day! Parents, wake up now, before it's too late! Don't let your kids feel like they have out-smarted you... Educate yourselves, on the web, just like they do. Don't let them win this fight!
Parents, you have to show your kid's more respect, too. There have been so many times where I have heard a grownup talk down to their kids and tell them to "shut up" in public. These attitudes from you will stay with your kids throughout their lives. I know from personal experience how parents favor the other kids. I know how these other kids feel and it is very hurtful for me to hear it, still!
Again, from personal experience, when anyone around me raises their voice, I cower away from it as soon as possible. I am ruined for life mentally... Please don't do this to your kids! Respect has to be earned. Oh, and please excuse me for interrupting your cell phone call that must be taking priority over watching your kids! Grrrr..
Namaste-
While it's true that youth pushing for independence have been seen by their parents as disrespectful and lazy, you're right that parents can engineer how the teen years go by setting it up when children are young, and continuing it through to their adulthood. Some ways of doing that are listening to the children more than talking at them, respecting their (unformed) opinions and guiding them; parents should be coaches of a family team whose only goal is to produce wonderful productive adults.