The days when parents would send their kids outside to play? These days kids are given a pacifier: food, video game, tv, etc. I think that is why so many kids that are tweens and teens look like they belong in elementary school. I mean seriously, most 16 year olds look 12. To me i believe that it is because of a sacred society. The news rarely shows happy news. Most everything is about death, rape, shootings, car accidents, and kiddnapping. Parents dont feel safe letting their children out into the world so they keep them inside to protect them. But at what expense are they being protected? Many kids education dwindles because they are too absorbed into tv or a video game to understand the world around them. So now they have unrealistic ideas of how to earn money. They think because mommy and daddy give then whatever they want, they expect the world to hand them everything on a silver platter. What examples are we teaching our kids by handing them everything, instead of making them work for it and earning it, all in the name of protecting them from all the bad around them?

"go play on the freeway"

-Dear old Dad

I totally agree I see my friends giving their children everything they want and even going into major debt to do so.

I wuz po.....

No seriously, we live in a different time. I had a friend who went into serious debt to buy Christmas gifts for her children, and they're all under 10 years old. One of them demanded a toy that cost 150 dollars and she bought it. She admitted it was a stupid toy and it cost too much, but if she didn't buy it for him, he'd be "very disappointed." Pffft...

i actually had a old bf from 24yrs ago
when he was i think 4 or 5yrs old his mom said that he rode his his toy car or something like that on to the freeway,, i have no clu how she had miss him... but then her attitude was crap.. my daughter hated her , any kid at 2yrs of age doesnt hate anyone.. but my daughter couldnt stand her, she a constant 'B'' and a nag

what the heck!! no toy is worth $150 just to please that kid for a day.. come on.. my daughter when she was about 11 in that area she really wanted this one halloween costume and it was $30 for petes sake.. my bf at the time bought it for her and i told her you know you better wear it for the next couple yrs. but of course she didnt..

Exactly. And she said she knew he'd barely play with it, which he didn't, but she bought it anyway to please him. Makes you wonder who's in charge now, the kids or the parents, LOL

My stepson rode his bigwheel to McDonalds when he was 5,he was gone for about 20 minutes.It was during his mothers' watch.I was furious....

Yep, lol it was still outside. If you actually went out on the freeway would you have learned a lesson? Oh and another thing that makes me upset, parents who dont discipline their children. Im sorry but beating a child and spanking a child who is misbehaving is two totally different things. And people who interfer with how you choose to discipline or someone who tells you how to raise your child. Not a hypocrite, just dont understand the thought process of some people. Never would i tell someone they are wrong, just have different views and i like to see both sides to a story.

It's something that he actually knew the way there by himself

yes im an only child and my mom did feel guilty cuz she was always at work or in school doing better for us and yes im spoiled but she never went into debt to give me what i wanted she set limits and wasn't afraid to say no.

i think i turned out ok im not perfect but least ive got a work ethic unlike these kids today

What is going to happen when they turn 18-21 years old

How will they handle a job???

Some of them will never learn to....

It was about three city blocks away,i was kind of proud that he took initiative.But scared!!!

My sister and i got concert tickets for christmas and easter one year. But we earned them. And it made for much fond memories. But other than that i was usually happy with a cd a movie and the clothes i got as gifts. I had to work to earn things in my house. Still do lol. But now i work to earn my right to live with a roof over my head, power to see, water to bathe, phone to communicate, and food to eat. Anything else is a bonus!

So I guess they stay at home and continue to be supported. I had a co-worker and her son was 30 yrs and still at home OMG. She kept saying he is looking for work haha, plenty of jobs here. One year went by and he was still living off of her.
Talking about dating who would date a 30 yr old still living with Mom and not working.

I learned the hard way...so will my children.

A lesson lived...is a lesson learned.

Its an interesting question. I just think people have forgotten about balance and its importance. I know people who shield their kids from EVERYTHING and then I know people who basically allow their children to run their own lives and NEVER enforce rules or boundaries. I think both techniques are equally dangerous. Kids are not meant to be dependent on their parents forever. I believe it is the parents job to TEACH and GUIDE the child into adulthood and then release them to make good decisions based upon those lessons. It is never too early to give a child that balance of time to explore and do things somewhat unaccompanied and time when they must be a part of the family 'team' and contribute their part.