The Cycle of Abuse

More and more dysfunctional people, who were, themselves, raised by dysfunctional people, are raising dysfunctional people.

Maybe I need to go back to school and learn a bit about psychology, sociology, and family dynamics. Maybe then I could see a way to break the cycle.

It seems to my (uneducated) mind, that the thing that is missing is "hands-on" parenting. My mother was a stay-at-home mom, like most in the 50's and 60's. There are certain phrases I remember hearing from her A LOT--"Stand up straight," "Don't interrupt," and "How would you feel if somebody did that to you?"

That last one seems to be sadly lacking in the upbringing of modern kids.

First off, Mom is now in the workplace. Not (most often) because of any Women's Rights issue, but because of economic necessity. Few builders are constructing the type of "starter home" that dotted the landscape after WWII. You know the ones--two bedroom, one bath, no frills. The sort of house a person could pay for on one income. No, the housing market is full of "McMansions," acres of houses with four bedrooms, three baths, two-storey living "areas," and all sorts of mod. cons. that families with small children could very well choose to forego, like fireplaces, kitchen built-ins, landscaping, and such. Both parents must work to pay for this behemoth, and the kids are stuck with (at best) a generically p.c. upbringing in a day care center. Parents pick up the kids and come home to nuke a meal, check to see homework is done (maybe), schlepp the little ones off to gymnastics, softball, T-ball, soccer, scouts, or whatever is the activity-du-jour, and then home to bath and bed.

When are we teaching values? In the car?

I shudder to think about what the next generation will be like.