Parenting... it's a difficult task. Children don't come with manuals or handbooks, telling parents what to do. Most of the time, we parent based on how we were raised. On the other hand, if we were raised in a less than ideal environment, then some of us try not to repeat the same mistakes out parents made. Some parents just seem to know, automatically, what to do with kids... exhibiting copious amounts of patience, love and understanding. For all parents, though, raising children is a job... a 24-hour-a-day commitment.

Some parents, though, seem to be so out of tune with their children, that- before they know it- their kids are grown and out the door. The bad part about that, is... it is very likely that the child/children have grown up with much negativity, anger, animosity and resentment... and are just waiting to break free from their parent's authority. Those children will go out, into the world, and be full of anger and hatred toward their parents and how they were raised. This can create numerous problems for the children, and for society.

What if, one day, you are at the local library. You turn around and happen to notice a little boy... no more than 2 years old. He's just standing there, in the corner, not saying or doing a thing... but, he is alone. What do you do? This very senario took place today, at our local library. I happened to be in line, checking my books out. That is when one of the library employees said something to me. "Do you happen to know who that little boy belongs to?" I turned and looked, and it definitely was not a little boy I'd seen before. The conversation, between us, went on. "I can't believe someone is not missing their child right now?" Within, maybe, a minute, another employee was dispatched and an announcement was made on the loud speaker. For sure, someone would come and claim the little boy now... right? Wrong! It was about 5 minutes, or so, later that the parentS (Yes- plural!) came up from the basement (another part of the library is located there), along with two or three, other children. Immediately, the mother yelled at the little boy, asking him why HE ran away! Then, she jerked him, by his arm, and drug him to the front door, crying.

So, I ask, "What IS wrong with (some) parents these days?" Needless to say, the scene above left us feeling helpless and angry.

The way I see it, is... parents are the sole providers in charge of raising their children to be loving, caring, responsible adults. Now, I'm not saying it's EASY... believe me... I know! However, each and every one of us parents willingly took on the role of parent. No one forced us to do it, and... surely... our children, like us, didn't have a choice in whether or not to be here. We owe it to our children to be there for them physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually... every way we can. Not, when we feel like it or when it's convenient, but when they need us!

I think of all the children, around the world, who are in less than ideal family situations. I know people who don't even deserve to have children... let alone mistreat them. Some parents you can talk to, rationally, about these things. Others will NEVER get it. The sad part, is... the children are always the ones who suffer. Then, we- as a society- wonder where all these "terrible teens," young adults and adults come from. I'm telling you... they have come from homes where the parent/s have not been available in many, different ways. Those children grow up to be our domestic violence cases, arsonists, people who commit assults and so forth. None of which is good.

Can you, for a moment, just imagine what the world would be like if ALL children grew up with loving, attentive and kind parents?! How much better life would be for everyone!

I think of mothers, especially, who I see hitting their kids in the grocery store, simply for doing "what little kids do." They might start crying... out of fatigue or boredom. Instead of stopping for a moment and picking the child up, or talking gently to the child, the mother threatens her child and when the child fails to obey her word, to a T, she hits the child in the head! Is that loving? I think not!

What about the over-worked, inattentive parents who, while out with their children at a local fair, become unreasonably angry, when one of the children cannot "keep up" with everyone else? Is it o.k. if the father yells at the child, right in his face, and then slaps him because he doesn't answer as quick as the father would like? Is this o.k.?

What can we, as a society, or as an individual, do when we witness something like this? Do you attempt to say something to the parent/s? Not if the situation is so out of control, you may be risking your own safety! If that's the case, you can alert a manager or someone else in charge, wherever you happen to be. The rest is up to them. If, however, you notice that the parent/s are just losing patience, you could kindly offer to "intervene" for a moment, just to "lighten the mood" and distract the child from "acting up," or whatever is going on. You could show the child a toy or a bright display nearby. You could talk to the parent/s, telling them you know how they feel and that it will be o.k. Oftentimes, this is all that is needed to quickly rectify the situation.

What is the solution to this pervasive dilemma? I don't believe there is any, one solution; however, I do believe... if parents would take a moment to spend time with their children, to laugh and play and talk with them, and not to ridicule, belittle and abuse them, then the children of today will become the heros of tomorrow.