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Motivational and Inspirational Stories

Changed

Author: D Anthony, D-Rose Impressions, 08/00

* Excerpt from the motivational and inspirational book,
The Nurse in the Delivery Room Slapped Me... Once *

Let me start out by saying I do not have children of my own. On some levels I guess that makes me just about as qualified as many of the recognized modern day experts on the subject. To be perfectly honest, this is an article I felt I wasn't qualified to write - until a good friend, a mother of two, suggested I do so.

Turn on the news these days and you will likely catch a story on one of the following… teen violence, teen drop out rates, teen runaways, babies having babies, teen drug use, teen alcohol abuse and/or teen suicide. It's enough to make you wonder… What is wrong with these kids today? What's wrong? Lack of responsibility, fear, hope, respect, direction, work ethic, appreciation, innocence, love, concern, time, wonder, communication, discipline and encouragement - to name a few.

Walk through any mall or down any street and sooner or later you'll come across an adolescent blatantly ignoring their parent's instruction - in many cases responding with what they will and will not do. Listen to preteens talking and too often you'll hear "that *#*>&" or "@$#^ them". Walk down the halls of a junior high school and you're likely to see two hundred-dollar basketball shoes, expensive jackets, jewelry, - the works. In many high schools, you'll find students wearing clothes and driving cars the teachers can't even afford.

What's wrong with these kids today anyway? In a word… us - the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, neighbors, teachers, preachers, even the strangers on the street. At some point along the way we've forgotten about many of the phrases we came to know. We forgot great behavior altering passages such as - a penny saved is a penny earned… wait till your father gets home… don't do as I do, do as I say do… because I said so… it takes a village to raise a child… go get me your belt… if your friends jump off a roof are you going to jump off too… and the ever popular do you want me to give you something to cry for? We forgot the sincere, matter of fact, look a mother has when she utters the phrase - "I brought you into this world and I'll take you out of it".

For anyone who thinks these are harsh… for anyone questioning the appropriateness of these messages for children… and most importantly for anyone out there who has adopted one of those new age, better-educated, you want to go in time-out, 'Doctor Somebody' approaches I offer the following;

If you want to keep on getting what you're getting, keep on doing what you are doing!

I heard all of these things and more from two loving parents, guided by instinct and tradition. They didn't need a college degree in philosophy or childcare - or anyone else that had one. Between them I acquired healthy doses of love, respect, faith, encouragement, and, last but not least, fear. Yes… fear! I learned at a very early point in my childhood (and was reminded throughout) that there were consequences for my actions. I learned that whether the consequences were good or bad depended mainly on my choices. These lessons are the foundation for the adult I have become. Don't get me wrong… I got my share of whippings. (After all, every child has a need to test the boundaries.) But I can assure you that my older brother saw more leather than I did. Deterrence is a heck of a thing.

I just know there was a time when kids were allowed to be kids - (and forced to be when they forgot their place). There was time decisions were made by a child's parents… because I said so was all the reason that was needed… and finishing high school was not an option. There was a time when many of the problems you hear about on the nightly news was the exception and not the rule. There was a time…

Thinking about all of this I started to wonder - where was I the day that things changed? Recently however, I found myself watching one of the morning news programs. There was some specialist touting what is likely his best selling book on teenagers entering high school. I listened intently as the hostess and author discussed the difficulties of high school life for teenagers today, the need to fit in and the inability for these teens to relate to parents. And I thought to myself… and now ask you… Doesn't that sound familiar - maybe like when you entered high school? It seems to me that if the hostess and author had paused and thought about it for a couple of seconds they would have realized something. Each of them (and their families) made it through high school just fine without the need for that author's book - or any other 'how to' manual. When it's all said and done, maybe things haven't really changed so much after all. Maybe… just maybe… we have…

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Your thoughts on 'Changed'

What the youth need today is God in their lives! Yes, I think some of us have changed. We don't remember the whippings we received,or the punishments we were on. If we ask JESUS to come into our lives, He will teach us how to discipline our children and others. When I was growing up any respectable adult was allowed to discipline you.

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