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Parenting

I just read a post on Facebook regarding the dearth of parenting. The poster was describing a scene where two young girls were pelting rocks at some ducks in our little town and how he observed no parents around telling these girls that it was wrong to torture little innocent animals. Within hours, there were 15 responses - all alluding to a lack of parenting that is evident nearly everywhere today.

Stick with me here - because that conversation reminded me of one I'd had recently that might not seem related to parenting at all. It was with my oldest son about his concern about the selfishness of our culture - most recently evident in the Wall Street meltdown. He believes that we are too focused on "Me" and not enough on "We" and if we had a little more focus on the total and just not our part, we would be in a much better place.

Still there?

Okay, here's the cement that will hold this together - those girls pelting little ducks with rocks weren't likely taught, by their parents, that hurting others is wrong. Maybe because the parents weren't around. Maybe because they had to work too many hours and couldn't parent when they got home because they were too tired. Or maybe because they didn't want to spend the time teaching life lessons to their offspring. Or maybe because they didn't want to chastise their little darlings because then the little darlings would cry or wouldn't love them anymore. There could be a whole list of 'maybes' or excuses.

Parenting is selfless. Parenting is all about others and thinking of "We" and rarely "Me". Wall Street attitudes have invaded Main Street living rooms. It doesn't always feel good to do the job of parenting correctly.

But here is where the Glass is Half-Full - parenting is the toughest job you will ever love. The rewards are life-long and infinite.

That's all for today - I've got some parenting to do!

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