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Did We Forget To Pass Down the Traditions and Values?

Actually the changes in family life over just one generation, from myself to my children, have been astounding, and in most cases, the changes have not been good. Does that mean I was a failure as a parent? Were my parents better at raising their children than I was? I really don't think it's that simple.

By the standards of my friends and family, as a parent I was very strict, as was my husband. (Although, I was responsible for most of the issues regarding the children.) Because of that strict way of ours, there seems to be even more differences between the two generations in some of the other families we knew, than in ours.

Never-the-less, the differences are there. So what are they and how did they come about? In what ways have families changed the most? It would seem to me, in some very important areas, we have allowed things like family values and morals fall by the wayside. Family traditions, once so important in families, now no longer seem very important. Proper respect of elders now has to be earned , rather than taught to our young people. Children are no longer raised to know the importance of the family unit. It is now all about each individual and not about the family as a whole.

Family gatherings, once the highlight of our lives, now are attended only by those who choose to attend. Other family members are allowed to remain in their room with the newest video games or whatever else the trend may be. You miss a lot when you miss the opportunity to grow close to and learn from your extended family. For the new generation, it is all about doing what you want to do. But what does that teach our children? Life is not just about doing what you want to do.

Yes, I believe that sports and other school and social activities are important in rounding out a persons development and personality, but that is only one part of teaching them responsibility. Commitment and family loyalty are the most important things we can teach our children.

The problem, I think started with us wanted to give our children all the things we never had. Maybe we forgot that we had all the most essential things in a family and it had nothing to do with CD's and video games. Good values, morals, honesty, respect, pride in oneself, and knowing how to treat others...those are the most important things we can pass down through the generations.

Our desire to be our children's best friends, should not out weigh our need to be a good parent.

Learn more about this author, G. Schettino.
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