Home Alone and Unhappy; Reflections on the State of U.S. Children

Zenit.org ^ | 1-29-05 | Zenit.org

[k2blader]

I'd argue that it's somewhat difficult for a young person to make a *lot* of money and have much time to recreate.

Or is it just that I'm getting old. :-)

[aruanan]

As a result, we have childhood extending up through the twenties, especially among those who want nothing to do except make a lot of money and recreate.

I'd argue that it's somewhat difficult for a young person to make a *lot* of money and have much time to recreate.

The operative word above is "want". Those who believe that there's nothing higher in this world than to extend their individual creature comforts are those who are perpetually locked in childishness.

[familyop]

Family/fathers' rights ping! Fathers' rights are family rights. Give me a private reply to get on or off of this ping list.

Oh, and as for the feminist part of the plan for socialism, big labor pool profits in the short run but bankruptcy in the long run,...

"Then it will be plain that the first condition for the liberation of the wife is to bring the whole female sex back into public industry, and that this in turn demands the abolition of the monogamous family as the economic unit of society" (Frederick Engels, "Origins of the Family, Private Property, and the State").

Mao's Little Red Book on Women
http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Mao/Mao-31-Women.html

Some of Lenin's words on women
http://www.marx.org/archive/lenin/works/1919/nov/06.htm

The following is from the "Manifesto of the Communist Party" (Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Fredrick Engels)
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/ch02.htm

"The bourgeois sees his wife a mere instrument of production. He hears that the instruments of production are to be exploited in common, and, naturally, can come to no other conclusion that the lot of being common to all will likewise fall to the women."

He has not even a suspicion that the real point aimed at is to do away with the status of women as mere instruments of production.

For the rest, nothing is more ridiculous than the virtuous indignation of our bourgeois at the community of women which, they pretend, is to be openly and officially established by the Communists. The Communists have no need to introduce free love; it has existed almost from time immemorial."

“Everyone who knows anything of history also knows that great social revolutions are impossible without the feminine ferment. Social progress may be measured precisely by the social position of the fair sex (plain ones included)” (Karl Marx Letter to Ludwig Kugelmann, MECW, Volume 43, p. 184, http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1868/letters/68_12_12.htm)

[familyop]

"my mother always warned us that it was a communistic plot to break up the family union"

Yes. Fathers give the same warning with proof. See the references in comment #23.

[k2blader]

Ahhh, I see your point. I think I've seen this in action on "American Idol". It's startling to see because I don't really come into contact with these kinds of people as I go about my day.

[b9]

I think I've seen this in action on "American Idol".

Please elaborate.
Our family loves to watch American Idol...
the genuine humility of some of the best singers,
in contrast with some selfish, arrogant brats.

The wonderful young mom who was advanced to the next
level, only to realize she missed her son too much
and what she thought was her "dream" was not worth
sacrificing her child.

[k2blader]

I enjoy watching "AI" too. My #25 was referring to the selfish arrogant brats you mention, such as the ones at the earliest auditions who brag about being the best singers/performers in the world and then get hysterical and potty-mouthed when they're rejected due to the fact that they are actually the most *horrible* singers/performers in the world.

[gardencatz]

Actually, I think its wonderful that you stay home and care for your husband. I've always thought it ironic that the "freedom" and "self-worth" some working women think they'll find out in the world, I've always had at home. No one tells me what to do or regulates my day. I have the time to learn about anything I want, play with kids and pets, garden, do crafts, read Free Republic (LOL), etc. Not that it's all sweetness and light, some days are frantic and hectic and stressful. Raising boys is sometimes like trying to tame a tiger with a fly swatter, but the next thing you know, they're all hugs and kisses again.

[b9]

Exactly.

What I love about the show is that it shows what
hard work it really is to hone your craft.

Talent alone is not enough.
Maturity, perseverance, humility, grace under pressure, week after week.
This season has some dynamite voices.

Making a living in the arts is very hard work,
and misunderstood by most.
It may look glamorous, but performing under pressure
takes incredible skill and discipline.

I love the judges, especially Simon.
His honesty is refreshing in this era of flattery.

[Veto!]

Liberation's children, Hymowitz notes, "live in a culture that frees the mind and soul by emptying them."

Yes indeed. The poor neglected kids go from RugRats to MallRats to DemocRats without stopping to think. But they do watch Oprah and know they should be everything they can be, whatever that is.

[k2blader]

Simon is definitely refreshing, whereas Paula is just so sappy. *LOL*

Several of the current contestants really impress me--not just because of their voices but also their maturity and poise.

I think this season is going to be waaaaaaaaay better than the last one.

[David Isaac]

Does anyone have any idea at all how it was possible for the wacky ideas of a few radicals, to become the "gospel" for the majority of large corporations (hiring practices and advertising), the media, the educational system (all levels) and all levels and branches of government? There are probably many who are too young to remember the pervasiveness of these idiotic theories, but there were few areas unaffected.

There are plenty of theories out there, that might be pursued, but thankfully they are not. Though there are a few that should be. What or who was the force behind the culture-destroying theories of the 60's and 70's?

[freeangel]

"contributed to the rise in child anger, hyper kids, over-medication"etc.

No problem, just give them more drugs after instituting a national mandatory psychological screening so the term "normal " can be eliminated from the language. We wouldn't want anyones parents to feel badly about raising children.

[Non-Sequitur]

So if she admits that there has been an explosion in divorce and single parenthood why does she blame daycare? Why not condemn the root cause?

[kittymyrib]

This attitude of parents today is exhibited in the atrocious behavior of their children in public. No one is bothering to civilize the children. The parents seem to be feckless bystanders, while their children feel frightened at being in control when they know they can't handle it. Very sad for our society.

[cubreporter]

Ditto. No one will ever rock a sick child like its mother can. Gosh, we didn't have money but I remember my mother being home all the time. I loved her cooking and being there. She didnt' say I love you every 15 minutes but...we knew (my brother and sisters) her and our dad loved us by how they acted and what they did for us on a daily basis just by doing the things moms and dads did. They loved us by doing!!!

We had what we needed. Not a lot extra but...who cared? We didn't take vacations to faraway places (unless you called the playground a couple blocks away a faraway place) nor did we have weeks off at a time for spring, winter breaks. We had a couple days off and we traveled "Outside" and met our friends to play ball, skate, jump rope, play tag or jacks or some simple game like that.

Exercise was gotten by doing all those activities. We had class, had recess (where they would bring a couple boxes of candy around for you to buy or little cartons of vanilla or chocolate milk. AFter that we went back to work in the classroom which was quiet with kids respectful to the teacher and...the teacher was in charge.

Oh I would beg mothers ... IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK, stay home. Please...stay home and raise the children you have been blessed with. They need you. They WANT you.

This article makes my heart ache.

[VermiciousKnid]

LOL...isn't it fun to watch their eyeballs spin around in different directions?

I can still fondly recall the reaction my college advisor had when I told her that Carol Brady was my role model. I thought she was going to burst a vessel.

Regards,

[cubreporter]

You have a right to your voice as does anyone else. I too believe feminism has destroyed a lot of things and so do a lot of other people.

The family is the heart and soul of everything. Without it there is chaos. We are experiencing the reaping now what has been sown.

[cubreporter]

We are experiencing the reaping now what has been sown.

Oh I apologize for that terrible sentence. Don't even know how I got there. What I meant to say and say correctly was: "We reap what we sow and now it has come full circle to haunt us."

[cubreporter]

Remember when all moms were home? Everyone kept an eye or ear out for the kids? Everyone knew whose mom was who and whose kid was who?

Moms are wise and strong people. The feminists tried to tell them otherwise. Why would they have listened? It was the feminists who were insecure about who they were and so they had to put that on the backs of moms who were home with their children. Now see what has happened. Moms....stand tall. Stay home UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO WORK and tell the feminists it's YOUR LIFE and YOU will do what is right and best for YOUR FAMILY.

Make those cookies, fix that dinner, wash the clothes, change those diapers, settle the kids in bed at night and enjoy the rest of the evening with our husband. There's nothing wrong with it. Motherhood and... Fatherhood is a noble profession. How dare anyone else tell mothers their jobs are not jobs.

Misery loves company and that's what the feminists are all about. They seem to hate all men and bash men and can't stand it when someone is happily married and does nice things for a man. If a man and woman truly love each other they WILL do nice things for each other and not because some dip says they should or shouldn't. Had a young man open a door for me the other day and I stopped and said: "Thank you very much...I appreciate that." I want men to treat me like a lady. I don't want to act like a man.

Mothers and Fathers are important. The man is the Head (figuratively speaking of course) of the home and the woman the heart. You can't change that no matter what. Maybe now things will change. The kids need the love of their parents and they need them there for them.