It's Official

I have tried to deny it beforte now, but I am willing to admit it: I am not poetically inclined and may never be. I can write short stories like nobody's business, but when it comes to poetry; I give up.

Ode to Homework

Because I have nothing better to do

I can finally write that movie review.

Sun shining—fifteen degrees,

Envisioning a warm summer breeze and palm trees.

Wishing to go outside and catch a tan,

But alas, I’m stuck inside watching Anchorman

The Times How They Are A Changing

Roller-blading, biking, watching Saturday morning cartoons, playing Barbies—all the things I did as a child; however, for the youth of today this is not on their to-do lists. Oh no! Instead they out gallivanting around, doing whatever they wish with little to no consequences.

Today, it seems as though the level of respect shown by young children is diminishing. When I was younger I would never dare act the way children do today. Children as young as six are cursing—often times at their parents. No slap in the mouth, no soap; no consequences. Parents are not allowed to use these tactics today because one day someone decided to call it child abuse—how are the kids to learn? Are they going to learn by the parent constantly telling them no? No, they’re not, and that’s clear because this issue just seems to be getting worse.

I see it every day in my work place where I serve families and host birthday parties. Parents have little to no control of their children today because—God forbid—someone sees them punishing their child and calls Children's Aid services. I’m sorry but when I was a child it wasn’t illegal for a child to receive a “spanking” every now and then—I received several, but I learned my lesson every time.

Also, what is up with ten year olds who think its “cool” to inhale toxic chemicals? I’ve begun to notice it more and more lately and, to me, the amount of pre-teens who smoke is astonishing; especially with all the known information. Just the other day I spotted a small boy who looked to be eleven—maybe twelve— puffing on a cigarette. Where were his parents? How do they not know? I asked myself these questions and more, but then I realized that none of that matters because this little boy is going to smoke regardless. There is nothing his parents can do; they are helpless.  They cannot punish him because—for the most part—the youth of today are generally defiant due to their new-found freedom of punishment. All anyone can do is tell him to stop; he won’t.

Lastly, being a senior in high school, I hear bits and pieces of conversations as I travel the hallways, and what I hear is truly unbelievable. Grade nines—thirteen year olds—are talking about sex, drugs and whatever else they can get their hands on. So and so hooked up with his guy, she passed out, he almost overdosed—all sentences heard through my travels. First of all, they are thirteen and definitely should not be having sex—they’re still children, it's just that simple. As for drugs, I did not even have a clue what marijuana was until I reached high school and theses kids are talking as though they’ve been doing drugs their whole lives—apparently getting messed up every weekend puts you in the “cool” crowd now.

It seems as though all of these challenges could be overcome if parents still had control and could still properly punish their children. Telling them not to and showing them what can happen if they do are two separate things today that need to become one. Children need to know that there are serious consequences to their actions. If children knew this from the very beginning it could potentially stop them from making wrong life choices. Everyone makes mistakes, but some mistakes can be avoided.