Be thankful...

**Wes** · #1 09-13-2004, 11:59 AM

I'm starting this after reading of Chip's grandmother passing away.

I don't want this to sound like a rant, but this is the only forum where I will ever be able to say this.

It disturbs me to see how rude children are these days to their parents and grandparents.

I've lost all of my grandparents now. My last grandmother to pass was in December of 2001.

I loved her very much and miss her.

Both of my grandfathers passed away before I was even born.

My point (and I have one) is that I wish kids today would get back to appreciating and respecting their "elders" (parents and grandparents).

I've seen little kids cuss at their parents in the mall or disrespect them or whatever. I knew growing up that if I talked back like these kids do today that I would be grounded at the least.

It's too late to be nice to your grandparents after they've died. Same thing for your parents.

If you are lucky enough to have two parents and any grandparents still living then you are truly blessed in this day and time. Don't make your parents life a living hell.

Hope this doesn't come off as "preaching" and maybe most of you TNers are not that way, but it's become a disturbing trend to see how children treat their parents these days.

Ok rant over. Discuss...

Skye · #2 09-13-2004, 01:59 PM

I don't disagree with what you said exactly, but its really realistic. it is fairly normal for teenagers to argue with their parents about everything. When you get to be an adult its different though.

Also when you kids argue back, well thats because the parents are telling them what to do. 99% of the time thats probably a good thing, but i know (as an adult now) i don't agree with everything my parents told me to do. If they do that too much it only makes you more want to do the opposite of what they say - now i can, i often do!!!

**Wes** · #3 09-13-2004, 04:00 PM

I'm not saying teenagers that disagree with their parents, that's normal.

And I hear you about parents that are too strict, that's the parents fault when they go that way.

I'm just talking about "reasonable" parents that are kind of "normal".

I didn't agree with most of what my parents told me, but at the same time I would never cuss them out or whatever.

I know everybody always says that the younger generation is worse than the one before, that's not really what I'm saying.

It's just kind of disturbing to see a 6 year old cussing his mother in public.

slipknot8527 · #4 09-13-2004, 04:12 PM

It's not being "rude". I've always accepted death as a part of life, and it isn't as if people are just "forgetting" that people will leave later in life....

From personal experience, as my life goes on, I grow to appreciate my parents and cousins and even my little sister much much more...I think it is very normal to rebel against your parents in the early teen years.

Draculus · #5 09-13-2004, 04:24 PM

Well, I think children don't really have the concept of life and death. They just take everything for granted. My grandfather (mom's side) passed away about 4 years before I was born. I've heard so many stories about him. It really hurts that I never got to know him. My grandmother, thankfully, is still alive. But she's been suffering from Alzheimer's for the past four years. When the disease first began to show it's signs, I really had no clue about it. I never really thought about her dying. I guess for me that was my wake-up call. It usually takes awhile before kids can start to understand life and death, and then, take life more seriously.

Jerry S · #6 09-13-2004, 04:25 PM

This is a strange thing of me to adamit, but I've always been very close with my mom. We don't like to fight, and we agree on things very often. My dad is a cool person also, but he lies about many things. Just today my mom found out that he lied about his salary, and in reality, he has to pay us much more child support. Also, my dad has made many promises of taking us on vacation, and it ends up being a generic trip to my grandparents down the shore.

I can say that grandparents feel very appreciated if you simply call them. They will be very happy if you call them, at least once a week. And I admit that I often forget to call.

Now, people can argue with me about this if they're older, because they've had more experience:

Teens, or most people in general, don't like to be told what to do with a rude tone. If my mom were to say: "Hey, can you please turn off the TV and do your homework," I'm wouldn't try to argue or bargain with her, but I would if she said it like: "Go do your homework." I'm sure adults would like if there boss was polite rather than demanding too. I don't know how other people are ,I simply don't like to be "bossed around" so it may cause me to argue. But the same request said politely would be different.

So anyway, I recently heard of somebody who lost her mother on the last day of school last year to cancer. She is my age (15). Since then, I would randomly think about it and just stop to appreciate things that I have, people who are around me, etc. It's terrible to lose someone, but it's easier to get over them when you know you showed them much appreciation.

willski2002 · #7 09-13-2004, 04:46 PM

A lot of problems with children disrespecting their parents and grandparents has to do with their upbringing. If your parents don't know how to raise a child properly etc. then there is an increased likelyhood that you will be rude and immature. i.e. if your parents are white trash and they beat you and cuss at you, then you will most likely be a very rude and violent person and will probably beat your kids as well. It's a continuous cycle, much like poverty or sexual abuse.

slipknot8527 · #8 09-13-2004, 06:06 PM

Um......my two parents raised me properly, I don't drink, smoke, do drugs, or anything, and I still fought with them....it's a normal thing d00d...theres really no other answer.

**Phil** · #9 09-13-2004, 06:54 PM

I don't think most would consider you normal slipknot, but thats a topic for a different discussion.

Every child is going to argue with their parents at some point, just as parents are going to yell at a child for no reason. I think most parents do a fine job bringing their children. My parents are not like that however, I wish they were dead. ;party;

**Wes** · #10 09-13-2004, 07:35 PM

I think I confused everyone.

I'm not saying it's not normal to rebel. It is, that's part of growing up. I did. *gasp* everyone pretty much does it.

It just seams strange to me these days that things have gone as far as they have.

But at the same time, this might me middle-age calling my name when you finally realize these things and start to realize your parents weren't idiots after all, they actually knew a thing or two. lol

aribev24 · #11 09-13-2004, 08:10 PM

I understand what you meant, and like, some people really don't realize what they missed when their parents and grandparents were alive. But I've also always been close to my mother and my stepfather, but my father hates me. So believe me, I know what its like. I'm always afraid he's just die on me because hes 15 years older than my mother, and I'm never gunna say anything to him again!

Matt M · #12 09-13-2004, 08:33 PM

Well I appreciate my elder, I only have one grandma. The other grandma died before I was born. As for the other two grandpa's, one died two weeks after I was born (went down with his ship believe it or not), and the other died when my mom was three. I like my grandma, she's getting really really old, I try to visit her as much as I can.

ErioL · #13 09-13-2004, 11:37 PM

[QUOTE=Skye] Also when you kids argue back, well thats because the parents are telling them what to do. 99% of the time thats probably a good thing, but i know (as an adult now) i don't agree with everything my parents told me to do. If they do that too much it only makes you more want to do the opposite of what they say - now i can, i often do!!![/QUOTE]

Its not a matter of a parent being right or wrong (for the most part-don't go jump off a bridge) the point is your parents are your authority while growing up, and they should be respected. I agree, there is a lack of discipline in today's society, and I believe it comes from a number of sources,

1) lack of personal responsibility
2) peer pressure
3) negative media influence

Thats my opine.