redhotz's Blog

After reading your blog, I thot, 'this could have been written by me.' Except, my children @ home range from 13 -17. I am a stay @ home mom, and w/ all these 'teens @ home, I need to be home. Redhotz, I also have strong thots about mom's working outside the home, but I would only be speaking about mom's who have husbands and not the single mom. I know I would be stepping on lots of toes. Almost all of the women I know who ae mothers work outside the home. Fortunately I found a way to work here @ home. I do my best to inform my children of the evil side of the net. In the Bible it says raise up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. I feel that goes both ways---raise them w/ little to no disipline, and you've got kids like the ones you came into. and yes, I could go on about these lazy, I wanna-be-your-friend parents. You and I definately think alike.

I teach an adult evening class as a part time job. I'm impressed with the young adults that I see every semester. 18 to 24 year olds who are smart, respectful, and hard drivin individuals. I realize that some remain out in the streets and will eventually be a burden on society, but there are just as many bright ones who will one day be running our society.

I was a single mother of four. Of course I had to work, but was always home to fix supper so we could all sit down together, as a family. I was a Den Mother, member of the PTA, Girl Scout Cookie Chairman, which didn't leave me much time for a life of my own. My kids weren't perfect, but this was back in days when parents had rights. When there was a problem, I handled it the best way possible, according to the individual child. I didn't beat my kids with a belt, never slapped them in the face, but when needed I used a wooden spoon on their behinds.
It was much more affective than "time out", which in my opinion is a waste of time.
As a parent, it's up to you to know how best to handle your kids and teach them respect, at the same time. I now have 2 kids in their 50's and 2 in their 40's. All very successful and still call my friends Mr. or Mrs.
The important thing is to let kids know you love them, by teaching them good morals and chastising them when it's called for. Be there for them, always, and with God's help you can't go wrong.

When I speak of stay-@-home moms, I'm talking about stability and awarness of the children and not a stay @ home that does nothing but watch TV and eat. And to be fair, some moms HAVE TO work even tho their husbands have a job. It's very hard to raise a family on one salary these days. I think Redhotz and I were speaking of the husband and wife team who can't do w/o island vacations and a huge mortage and several cars. My husband and I both work; fortunately I work @ home. I was blessed to be able to do this.

My brother and I are Army brats. Being one does not condone bad behavior. As for issues, everyone has them, but both of us are college educated, hold responsible jobs, have families, never been arrested, used drugs, gotten speeding tickets or any of the other things that are expected to happen. What we did gain was an appreciation for other people, cultures and a fond appreciation of different foods (by the way, we're not fat). My point is that when kids act out, they are probably needing attention and parameters in which to operate. They could also be victims of negative peer pressure which can be devastating if there is not a strong support system.

Army girl will be the type of girl to get pregnant and put her baby in a plastic bag. Again, where ARE the parents when this is going on? Yet they will expect, no, DEMAND that society is at fault for the behavior of their children. And isn't bingo considered a form of gambling? What were 2 UNDERAGE MINORS doing gambling? So many red flags on this one. Doesn't anyone else see that or is it just cute that they are so adult? Treehuggers wake up.

They are the ones that want to be friends and hang out with their children and they wouldn't dare to punish the little darlings no matter what they destroy or what they do in or to society. They wouldn't want them to befall the terrible fate that their evil parents forced on them by correcting and disciplining them. Oh my, oh dear, how terrible that we should do such horrid things to our darlings. It's ok to let them turn out to be the dregs of society, they are only expressing themselves. Well anyway, you get the point. And it starts by letting the village idiots raise the children rather than enforcing some good and decent parental skills which alot of these people appear to be lacking.

Well mrgrim, I consider myself a "treehugger" but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm a liberal on all things. On some political issues I'm considered liberal and I am an environmentalist.

I have raised, with my wife, four children that now range in age from 20 to 26 years old. They have never been arrested and they all have decent jobs.

I was friends with them and hung out with them, but they knew who the parent was. They were disciplined (including a few spankings and raps on the head), when they did something wrong and praise and hugs when they did something right, but I loved them all the time. And yes when they were grounded, we were grounded. They weren't left alone very much at all. As they got older the teachings of respect took hold and now they come to me as a counciler as my role of disciplinarian changed when they moved out.

I agree with your village idiot view, the parents are ultimately responsible for their children, but please leave out or change your gross generalizations.

I appreciate all the feedback. I wish I could agree however with the comments that in todays day and age that it nearly takes 2 incomes though. Ratoon I thank you for having my back when you understand where I am coming from when I talk about the two income situation. My husband and I do not have tons of extra money. We live on military pay, and do not live above our means. We have simply made sacrifices. Our children do not go without, we do not drive shabby vehicles, we have just paid for the ones we have, and we take care of them. I am not berating nor do I look down on those who choose to or have to work two jobs. I simply think that if more people would change their ways, we could have more moms or dads at home instilling values and morals in their children. It's just my opinion. Thank You everyone! Have a great week!

No hard feelings here, mrgrimm, I just wanted to point out the generalization.

I have seen these types of families too, especially the mothers trying to look like their daughters when I have been out shopping. Or the "my Johnny does nothing wrong" kids that were anything but that on some of my baseball teams that I coached. I have just never made the distinction of bad parenting with being liberal or conservative.

I also agree with redhotz's statement, the world would be a better and safer place. The lack of morals and respect in certain young people are being shown more and more in the evening news and a crowded store.

BTW - Thanks for the concession, hope it didn't hurt to much!