This
Nevada school shooting is really bothering me.
I feel so bad for this nation. We
have entitled ourselves and our children to anything we want (we deserve, we
think) and if we don’t get it we get mad and get even. I don’t know why this happened. I can’t even pretend to get in this boy’s
head, this twelve year old boy, and try to figure him out. And he’s not going to be around to answer any
questions. And his parents are probably
clueless too. Unless he left a note, or
he was going to counseling. I really
have to wonder if his parents didn’t see something coming. I know when my daughter was a teenager and
even now, I can tell when she’s ready to boil over. I can see and feel the simmer before she
blows. I can’t do anything about it
because she is an adult, but I also DID do something about it when she was a
child.
Here
are some things that I think contribute to the shoot-em-up society, in regards
to children:
1. Video games. You can say that they are just games, but
when children commit crimes psychologists are the first ones to say that their
brains are not totally developed and they are highly impressionable.
2. Medication. Not theirs, yours. Either they are taking it or see you abusing
it. And they think it’s ok, because it
gets you through the day, or the hour, or the last five minutes.
3. Red Bull. I’ll probably get in trouble for this but
I’ve seen a ton of kids drinking this and other highly caffeinated drinks that
will get them going, screw up their sleep cycles, make them cockier, etc. When I was a kid even Pepsi was kept away
from us. Only for the adults. In previous posts I have mentioned living a
sheltered life, so this was probably not true for a lot of kids.
4. Access to the internet. I don’t care how many stops you put on your
computer, phone, tablet, etc – the kid will always find a way. You look at what they do on the
internet? Riiiggghhhttt. And I won the mega millions last week. You do realize they know how to erase history
and clear cache before you look over their shoulder, correct? What they see, and what they post, and the
fact they feel they can say anything makes them extremely dangerous.
5. Children’s rights. Yes, it’s good that we can help the children
who need it, but has your child ever said “You can’t put your hands on me! I’ll tell the police!” when you’ve threatened
to spank? They teach that first thing in
school now. It’s supposed to teach them
that their body belongs to them only and no one should touch it without their
permission, but what it really teaches them is that they can get away with
ANYTHING because you are afraid to get in trouble yourself.
6. "Everyone’s A Winner" mentality. Kids have to understand that not everyone can
win and handing out awards to all does not help our children. This melds into the theory of bettering
oneself. If you think you’re going to
get an award anyway, why do better? Why
push yourself? These kids are bored out
of their minds. They don’t have to
figure out anything – all they need is technology and they are on their way.
There’s
more, there’s always more. Maybe you’ll
add to my list. I think we need to go
back to the fifties, or even the forties.
Whenever kids went to classes for manners and how to behave in social
situations. We’ve lost that. I think even people my age could use it. These things were taught because they were
important. Not for fun, not for
credit. It was something you needed to
become a productive member of society. I
think we need to start paying more attention to the people around us instead of
our smart phones. If you see someone in
distress, take a moment and see if you can help. Smile at the person in line behind you. Make small talk. Show your child there is more to your life
than them. Show them there’s more to
their life than you. Take away the video
games and technology and bring them outside.
Show them parks and zoos and museums.
Walk by the water or in the woods.
TALK to them. Make eye
contact. Make them respond to you. Be quiet with them. Be still with them. It may be exactly what they need. Let self-confidence be their weapon of
choice. Please, for their futures as
well as our nation’s.
