What is wrong today with American parenting?

Question

Yes--it is another open ended question. Interpret it how you want to. Please leave an educated and thoughtful answer!

Answer 1

I think that American parents are afraid to discipline their children and therefore raise children with more behavioral problems i also feel that we don't teach by our actions as much as we should it has become more do as i say not as i do but i think some of these issues come from the fact that most children in our country don't have a full time parent due to divorce or financial reasons (two working parents) most families can't avoid these situations which i understand but it is the kids that suffer

Answer 2

The same thing that has plagued society from the first day monkeys decided to wear clothes and walk on two legs for a change. People are imperfect so parenting will always be imperfect. The notion that the new generation is going down the moral tubes is as ancient as the Greeks and possibly even more ancient than that.

I think a lot of parents out there are doing a superb job raising children. I also think there are an equal number doing a lousy one. Unfortunately, it is the way of the world. It isn't anything new, though. I wouldn't expect social order to crumble over it.

Answer 3

As a parent of 4 children and hopefully one day more, I can tell you right off that a lot of what is going on with kids today is that they are so disconnected. Parents are so involved with other things that the responsibility of our young people to OTHER people.ie daycare, classrooms, friends... I think we as parents need to invest time more than money into our kids. I worked for a long time while my kids were little because I wanted to afford a lot of things, I see know that my choice came at the expense of my children. I think that a lot of the parents out there find it easier to just give our kids material things because we think that it is what they want. When all they want is time and attention from those around them. If they do not find it at home they will look elsewhere and that is when they start to get into trouble. I think that we live in a society where we are constantly comparing ourselves with the "Jones'" and basing our selfworth on our monetary value, our kids see this and it transfers to them. More is better, more is better, we NEVER have enough because so and so has more. The best thing that we can give our kids is our time. If you think about it we have such a limited amount of time to make a lasting impression on them. We have them for about 18 years before they physically leave home, but they are independant thinkers long before then. It is our parental duty to instill in them good values, morals, honesty and self esteem. We really have no idea how important our role is and exactly how short of time we have to play it.

Answer 4

Ok here's what I think.. we live in a world that requires both parents to work to survive. When the parents get home they're tired, there's no time for family, no time for church, no time to teach our kids values, we take the easy way out.. we let our kids eat in front of the TV, we don't talk, we don't make love to our husbands, we don't go on walks, or take a Sunday afternoon drive, parents grow apart.. end up divorced, the stress doubles .. and the kids are just pushed along for the ride... the kids are longing for attention, some look for it from other men, end up pregnant way to young, others turn to drugs .. this isn't true for all working parents but it is true for a lot.. our government need to make it easier for more moms to stay at home.. or even more dads.. even if its just part time work instead of full time.. we need more time for our kids and for our family.

Answer 5

i'm particular i visit get a slew of thumbs down in this one, yet is it incredibly so important to be responsive to the place Morocco or Syria are once you're an undemanding American? Yeah, yeah, purely like an American suitable? i be responsive to the place they are. this awareness and napping with Alex Trebek would desire to get me on Jeopardy! Then what? Math is yet another difficulty. I constantly sucked at it. i finished at Algebra II, and purely squeaked out a C- undemanding. Math coaching desires to be remodeled. properly, coaching usually. I advised myself that I purely does no longer pass right into a math suitable profession. regrettably, that incredibly limits you. i will inform you from journey a verbal substitute important is a bad theory. i think of we've grow to be complacent for mediocrity. we choose that rugged guy or woman mentality to bite extra people, somewhat than the increasingly extra socialistic mentality.

Answer 6

The way the economy and the amount of single parents in the country is now, it's impossible to raise a child the way people choose. Parents aren't involved with their children's lives because of having to work to feed them. I was a single parent for the first three years of my child's life. He was in day care five days a week. I didn't have the bond I felt I should have with my son. My circumstances have changed and I'm a stay-at-home mom now. I now understand who my child is.

Lack of parental involvement, due to needing two incomes to survive, not by choice.

Answer 7

all the new and modern parents don't seem to believe in disciplining their child. THey are more interested in being his friend then his parent, therefore they let them do whatever they want. SO kids are having sex, doing drugs and alcohol at an early age, and no one cares.
These kids that go shooting their schoolmates-everyone blames it on the tv and videogames, I blame it on the parents. If their paretns knew what they were up to, and knew of the weapons they conceled, AND the types of videogames they played-such things would never happen.
Its a sad sad world we live in, and Im glad there are still few sensable parents out there.


In response to BPSLADY's remark-my parents were young parents and I was disciplined properly, as well, I am a young parent and I nurture my child properly and in no way am I selfish, and when my child is of proper age, I will discipline him as I should-because that is what my young parents taught me.

Answer 8

Not enought time are being spent with their kids and they really don't punish them enought. When I was a child my parents would always spend some time with me even if it was just playing baseball in the yard. And if I did anything wrong, you better beleive that I got punished for it and I love my parents for that. My parents have alway been poor, but that didn't stop them from doing their best for me and teaching me right from wrong. My mom couldn't always put meat on the table, but I never went to bed hungry, and I understood. My dad couldn't afford to buy me a brand new bike, but I got one that he made from spare parts and I loved it to death. We seems today to be to busy to spend some time with our kids, but if we just can do like my parents did, our kids would make better role models.

Answer 9

hey hun...i have to agree with TifanieF on this one except for the fact that i don't think all modern parents can be blamed equally because of others that refuse to discipline..to me that's not fare..and the reason i say that is cause i have to STRONGLY disagree with PBSlady and i took offense at what she said about young parents...i had my child at 17 yrs of age got married to her daddy, and have been happily married for 5 yrs now and am doing my best as a parent... granted she is shy but she has a roof over her head, we read almost ever night and we spend plenty of quality and family time together...not to mention me and her dad put her needs before our own to make sure she is a happy healthy child...i have seen plenty of parents young and older that neglect their kids and it breaks my heart...that's why i don't believe that age alone should be considered but maturity is the key factor....i would also like ta say i enjoy reading your questions and look forward to more of em'....love daisy

Answer 10

The parents need to grow . They have kids and all they want to do it run around. They're never home and the kids are dragged along. They continue to live their lives like they're 17 and in highschool. Most young parents today are not parent material.