Parenting Solutions-because childhood lasts longer than a school year, and family lasts a lifetime.

TERRORISM ON THE HOMEFRONT

Kim Diaz

The year is 2013 and it's more frightening out there, than it ever has been before. We can't seem to protect our children enough. We can probably blame our economy for starters, though. Ever since our family structure was forced into change, to make ends meet, no one's been minding "our" children. Two-income families are a given now, just to keep a roof overhead, and food on the table. Children are left to care for themselves all too often, at younger ages. This leaves our youth far too vulnerable into becoming victimized in a self-gratifying society with predators just waiting to make their move.

There have been many changes over the past two decades, in our American family structure. Most of these changes leave parents tired, worried, and struggling to give their children a likeness to their own childhoods. Mostly, of which is far out of reach. With our economy taking a direct hit from out-sourcing products and services, to the high cost of living, our families are left to deal with broken marriages, and the stresses of raising children in a multi-home environment, usually lacking in consistency and stability. Parental guilt can lead to anger and fear, and in some cases, substance and alcohol abuse, which in turn leads to more chaos and confusion, and further destruction of the family unit. This type of "terrorism" is far worse than what we could expect from an outside enemy. This terrorism hits from the inside-out. In most cases, we never see it coming. It begins within the human core and permeates to outside destruction. Unlike the horrific "bombing" we experienced in New York City on 9/11, this kind of terrorism begins in the home. It poisons what we hold dearest, and we may not even be aware of it until it's much too late. Domestic violence, child abuse, families in crisis-Terrorism on the Homefront. We need to be aware that it's here already. Slowly, but methodically destroying what we hold dearest, or should-our children.

If we stop and think about it, we could probably each count at least a half a dozen marriages that we personally know of that have ended in divorce. We may even know a couple of friends that either abuse alcohol or drugs at some level, as well. What's even more frightening, is that we may know of a child that has been abused in some way. That's disastrous! We would never knowingly allow a neighbor's family to be under attack, threatened, or hurt by an unknown assailant. We would allow our inner sense to protect to come to the surface. That's what we need to do in our homes. We need to love, honor, and protect our own. Just as our brave and committed soldiers do to protect our country and all that it stands for, we in turn need to emulate them, and protect our families. We may not be able to change some things in our society, overnight, but we can change things for the better in our own lives, one day at a time, by fighting terrorism in our own homes.

Gone are the days we allow our young children to ride their bikes in their neighborhoods. Gone are the days that our younger children can walk to school unthreatened by any harm that could come to them. Gone are the days of worry-free childhood and parenthood, for that matter. We all seem to be under a great deal of stress and worry. The choices we make to deal with this stress are becoming more and more detrimental to our children's well-being and peace of mind. So, no, we may not be able to stop the wars already in progress on foreign soils. We may not be able to change society with merely a wishful thought, but we can stop terrorism in our homes. We need to start with our own, and then slowly, let the healing begin and continue from the inside-out. It can be done. We just need to start now!

Kim Diaz