I had a conversation with someone and when asked what my greatest fear was, I answered that at times it is the police, and other times it is our youth.

I'm sure I am not alone when I say that the generation of children that are growing up is very intimidating and at times down right scary. The way they dress, when they talk it is their own code or language, or they don't talk they text everything. They walk in a daze in their own worlds and perhaps the scariest thing is that they are so intelligent and electronic/computer savvy that when they do communicate most people have not clue what they are talking about.

The music they listen to has no rhythm or meaning, they live on instant everything and many are lazy because if they can't have what they want when they want it and I mean quickly they have a mental meltdown of major proportions.

I see this in my own two kids, which are now 18 and 22. Both are good well rounded kids, but there are times I want to hit my head against the wall (or their heads) because they can adopt an aire of "This is my world" type mentality that I must then smash in it's tracks, because it's not all about them and what they want when they want it. Nobody is here in the world alone and respecting others is a huge moral value with me and they will adapt that value or suffer consequences. I have to ask myself when I see how these kids operate in the world; what the heck are they being taught at home. We can't use the school system as a cop out for what we as a family unit are not doing right at home. The point of engagement must be in the home. The point of teaching must be at home first and foremost.

This is not to say that there are not some kids out there that are not being raised in a family where they know they are loved and cherished, therefore these poor kids act out in ways that make my hair on my arms stand straight up. But for those that are just spoiled to the point of being dangerous, I am scared for the future of our society. After all these are the people that in 20 years will run our country. What we put into them now, is what will present itself later in life. We all need to put the best we have to offer into them, so that they have a fighting chance to make it. The world we live in is cold and tough these days.

The other night I was walking home from the train after being in the city late. I do not normally walk at night alone. It's not a wise move for any woman, but I said a prayer when after not seeing a bus or cab I chose to head home. I had no problems and was almost home, when I saw about 10 or so guys standing in the driveway of a car-wash as I walked by. Every bad thought you can imagine went through my mind. I thought about my 18 year old son, and if I caught him out after 11 pm standing in a dark lot with a bunch of guys, pardon my french, but "what the hell are you doing out there" would be my response. I would give him a tongue lashing that he would not soon forget. I know there is no reason to be hanging out in the dark with a bunch of guys unless there is trouble to follow. With all my thoughts, I continued to walk on determined to get home safely and thank God I did, but the thing is, I had some really bad scenes go through my head about what could have happened to me, and maybe I'm crazy, but I'd like to be able to walk home no matter what time it is and not be scared.

I know the world is not safe anymore and I feel like kids out late at night, carrying guns, but don't even have a legal drivers license is a very big problem. I fear cops because much of the time they are not around when you do need them and when they are they themselves are so scared they take out their fears on innocent people. So the result is late at night you have two very scary groups carrying around guns and it makes for an explosive atmosphere.

What I try my best to do is talk to the kids I see, as well my own and impress upon them that trouble doesn't come looking for you, but you put yourself out there for it by who you associate with and what you do. I will urge them to read a book rather than have a gun. I don't know who told our youth that shooting a gun is cool. It's cool when you can read something and learn something and create something. Reading can take you anywhere you want to go and safely.

Let's all reach out to our teens and 20 something kids and impress on them what is important and how powerful knowledge can and will be in their futures. Engage them in books and open honest conversation about all things going on in the world. We must save our youth or no one will be safe walking in the day or night in their own neighborhoods. This is a sad reality if we don't do something very soon.