Just a Thought

License for parenting is needed. OK, seriously what’s up with these adults who are irresponsible in disposing their tasks? I mean, some people just have kids without actually contemplating on the fact that children aren’t any ‘object’ that one can have and get rid-off later on when one feels one have enough of it. We are talking about human beings with emotions and motives of their own, who will grow up to be (with the will of God) adults to take care of this world. And if one, as a parent, fails to rear a child in the proper manner, then one might as well not have kids in the first place. Yes, we all know they are cute adorable ones when very young, but remember one can’t stop the clock from ticking, so they will become – of course no one likes it – teenagers. They aren’t cute anymore, and perhaps some can be pain-in-the-butt, but we’ve got to remember that they are still under ones own responsibility.

There are literally thousands of temptations around teenagers now a days that it is rationally hard for them to stay away from trouble. Talk about drug over-dose, alcohol intoxication, violence, STIs, depression, and yes, suicide. Whereas the first few problems are usually talked about, it’s the last two that is alarming and for me personally, very disheartening. Here-in lies a major thesis for a post-graduate studies for somebody interested, the nature of social stress, depression and suicide rate in youth, and especially teenagers. I know Vancouver as a metropolitan city, just like the rest of big cities, have its share of social problems, but we should and must take heed of the growing youth violence and homelessness as an indicator to what we as a society are failing to do to take care of youth and the most unfortunate. One can always put a blind eye on these issues at hand and decide to pretend everything is going well in “beautiful, nice weathered Vancouver”; nonetheless one will come to just be affected by the escalating problems as we’ve seen of late.

So what have we as a society done to help teenagers make the right decisions so they can avoid being trapped in any hole? And particularly to parents, what as a parent have you done, and of course apart from the material provision, to help your child reach at a responsible choice? Most importantly, what have you, as a parent, done to talk to your child and let him/her know that you’re there for them no matter what? Or are you one of those who throw money at the very sight of disappointment in your son’s or daughter’s life, leading them to materialistic dependence.

I have seen teenagers who get offended by their own parents’ failure to buy them the latest cell phone, ipod, fashion wear or what have you. This just makes me extremely sad, to see parents making themselves no more than a ‘live-bank’ with no, if any, emotional connection with their young. But this doesn’t go out to mean that all people are like this, but just to underscore the growing trend in teenage misbehavior with relation to parenting, for obviously parenting plays a big role.

Just reminds me that somewhere in being a role model as a parent lies the very success to a teenager in his/her adult life. So let us please be part of our son’s and daughter’s lives in a meaningful humanly way so we can be able to redeem whatever is left of their beautiful souls and dreams. And finally, let one make a critical choice before trying to bring another soul to this world. (So after all licensing for parenting isn’t bad eh?!)

Peace be onto you-

Hikmet