Blog Post #2: Parenting

          I believe that modern day parenting has completely transformed from the way it was during the times of Scout's and Jem's childhood. Today, due to the increase in the use of technology and the pressure from social media and society, I feel that parents have felt the need to reach their children on more of a lenient friend to friend level rather than a respectful parent to child relationship. The value of setting strong morals and expectations has decreased and it has been proven through the lack of respect children have shown towards not just their own parents but to other figures of authority outside of their home life.
        When I am a parent someday, my child will have guidelines and standards that will be established at a young age. My child will understand the importance of hard work and earning rewards. In today's society, I find that many parents hand their children material items that they do not deserve. This causes children to have less of an appreciation for the finer things in life and it will only make the child even more greedy and bratty. When it comes to an attitude toward others, my child will show everyone equal respect and will not discriminate against others. They will be taught that no matter what a person looks like, how much money they have, or where they come from will not be determining factors of character. A person's character can only be determined by their actions and words.
        In today's world, children are often given few limits on what they can do and where they can go. Parents do not monitor who the child is hanging out with or what they are getting in to. When I am a parent, if my child does not tell me the truth about where they are going or who they are hanging out with they will have several privileges such as phone/computer usage taken away. Trust is important in a child to parent relationship, but the child should know that the parent will have more trust for the child if they tell the truth, which is something many children are afraid to do because they fear the consequences of the parents' reactions to certain situations or details.
           Rules and regulations along with trust, respect, and communication are necessary in a successful parent to child relationship and that balance is something parents in today's generation are lacking.