Raising a child today?

Question

Just a random question...
We just found out I'm pregnant... and we're thrilled. I'm a teacher and a nanny - so I'm around kids plenty. My husband and I have the realistic idea that we will be the best parents we can be, but we know you can't hide your children from everything in this downward sprialing world (I say that based on the drugs, crime rate, violence, drop out rate, STDs, etc) - we will do the best we can and hope our child, with guidance, makes the best choices possible. However, that doesn't keep us from being nervous about everything to come as our child becomes "exposed" as he/she becomes older...
The question... is anyone else nervous about raising a child in todays society?

Oh... great idea about having your child volunteer... so simple, but an over-looked idea amongst our pregnancy excitement! :-)

Answer 1

Terrified - and he is only 18 days old. I want to raise a responsible, contributing person. I want to raise my son to be a good man. It is really hard - watching TV, movies today now that I have a child I really have been paying attention to how much violence there really is!! It is going to be the toughest job we will ever have - but the most rewarding!

Answer 2

Yes, it's hard. My son is 4 and he hears stuff on the news and everything. We teach him the differences between the good and the bad. When he's older, we'll have him volunteer at nursing homes, homesless shelters and etc soem when hes out on summer vacation. We wont do it all the time just maybe 4 hrs twice a week so he'll learn to give back and not be part of the bad. We also give him the most love and affection we can and let him know what it feels like to truly love someone and know all you have in life is love, family and friends.

Answer 3

I have seen some great kids which I link to good upbringing, I find their parents to be rather nice and down to earth people too. Unfortunately, these are the minority as the majority of kids I come across are ill-mannered. They get what they want and are the status symbols for their parents success, any good manners is selfishly or pretentiously reserved only within their circle of relatives or generous elders. Blah!!! How the kids are raised today? An American way of life with an immature third world mentality.

Answer 4

Am I nervous? Not really.

You can worry about the downward spiral, or believe that while problems still exist, we are working towards a better world. I choose to believe that I'll raise my child to be part of the solution ... and to make intelligent decisions about the many challenges he'll face.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." I believe that's true.

Answer 5

totally!
i have 2 toddlers one is 2 and half and other 3 yrs. and then a newborn.
my 2yr i worried about him since his dad (my ex) had bad past along with his friends. i worried eveytime when he takes him for the weekend the fact that i know his dad has friends that wont be a good influence on my kid and so his dad. as mean it can sound is true.
his dad said he has chance but when my son comes home he acts different. he pretends to make guns and starts shooting at things. and wants to play playstation.
i cant keep him away from his dad because is hard growing up without a dad i know from experience.
but i am trying my best to keep him away from anything violence am trying to do my job.
so yes i do get worried everyminute of my life!

Answer 6

yes. It called good parenting. But you have to teach them the bad along with the good. My son is almost 6, and he is just starting to learn that bad things can happen to people he loves. Its been hard for him, but he has us to help him through it. We are rasing our son in a Christian household, so he will have no only the strenght we give him but the strength of GOD as well. Good luck and God bless your growing family!