What Is Responsible Parenting these days?

The scope of parenting I supposed should be quite clear. But these days...I get little muddled. Good parents are supposed to do what is good for their kids....but what is good, huh? Cos kids don't think good of what parents think is good. And then, there are parents too who think they make good decisions which are actually not good for their kids.Life for this generation of teenagers (I won't include the younger kids cos they are generally easy to manage) is quite different. Kids today are busy trying to do what their friends are doing, own what their friends are owning, go where their friends are going, etc, etc...the list is inexhaustive. And they pursue it unrelentingly because of their newly awakened awareness to desires. Dealing with an unrelenting teenager who wants something is tiring due to a couple of reasons.

1. They pursue it unrelentingly.
2. They have very little self control.
   
3. The power of peer pressure.
   
4. The raging hormones.

At that age, their parents become their 'enemies' whilst their friends are bosom buddies. Thus begin the unrelenting wars at home...of willpower. It takes a lot out of the parents...this whole process. And it's a long one.

I am grateful to my parents for standing by me all those difficult years. It must taken quite a lot from them to make sure that my siblings and I make it in life. My mom, who had very little education, realised the importance of education and stressed in us its worth. Dad was usually busy working, to make ends meet and to put us through our education. My siblings and I will always be forever grateful for their sacrifice. Our lives are better because of them.

Today's parents are busier and like the kids, they too have many distractions now. Like the kids, they too want their right to their time for various activities.... Therefore, there is always this tendency to take the easy way out. For the younger ones, there are always the maids. For the teenagers, it's easier to just give in to their wants...... why get extra headaches...

Life is getting better with all the conveniences made readily available. Yet moral values are on the decline. Principles! What principles? More babies are abandoned, old folks left to fend for themselves, social problems abound. Take a drive out in Alor Star on Thursday and Friday evenings and very often the main street would be full of Mat Rempits who will be riding their bikes at great speed with no regard to other road users.

It's a vicious cycle. To discipline a child is a painful process for both parties...but it is necessary.