Hey Everybody...

It saddens me as I think about the lost power of parents. Parents have the name and responsibility of being in power over children. However, in this war to protect and train our children we carry guns (the symbol of power) but we shoot blanks. What leverage do we really have in training our children? Parents have been disarmed by competing factors such as; laws, television, and unfortunately psychology.

Laws were created to protect children. However, the laws misused, have caused great problems in families. Sometimes children have been removed from homes and placed in the homes of strangers while lengrhy investigations were being completed. A shroud of suspicion often follows individuals who had been cleared of any wrongdoing, and many parents have had careers ruined as a result of spiteful individuals hotlining them. I know that children have to be kept safe, and yes, there are some parents who are cruel. but parents are almost afrsid to discipline in any way because of the laws.

For years, television have insidiously set the tone for family living in America. Somewhere along the way we were declawed, while our children were given uzzies. In the late eighties, children on television were making a mockery of their parents. They talked back, implied that the parents were dumb, and often openly defied thir parents (and got away with it). On television children ten, eleven, and twelve years old parents are taking them on dates. No not play dates, dates! This trend was instigated and started by television, parents were mortified, but they drove their tweens to the mall for their "date" anyway.

Last, psychology, I am sorry to report, that I spend a lot of my time empowering parents, to fight the good fight. To parent their children. Teaching parents that they have every right to say no, and saying no will not cause children to become serial killers. Encouraging parents to have the courage to exercise judgement and make decisions for their child, and if the child doesn't like the decision he/she will not suffer from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Parents have to be encouraged to set boundaries and stick to it, even if they have to raise their voice to keep the boundaries straight. Parents have to pretend that they aren't angry, have no feelings except good ones, and in general be everything to sometimes little tyrants.

We are so "sensitive" to the emotional needs of our children, that we are put in the role of psychologists. We are afraid to tell the truth to our children lest we hurt their feelings. We are afarid to let a firm word come from our mouths because it may cause our children to fall apart. Meanwhile, children are becoming more insubordinate, lawless, and narcissistic daily.

Parents are on the battleground, but we have been disarmed and marching in place. Laws, television, nor psychology can take the place of parents but everyday a little bit of parental power is lost on the battlefiedd.

What about you, do you feel disarmed?