More parental guidance needed in the home

Editor: Of recent times we are hearing of children committing crimes as in the case of the one that occurred at Indian Bay and now at the entrance of the Central Leeward Secondary School.

I know we all have our views and it is sad when occurrences like these take place. I know it is under investigation and so in time, the real causes will be made known. However, it brings to the fore the homes from which they come. It shows that in many homes there are weaknesses, that sometimes we wonder if in some homes, criminals are nurtured.

Children are products of the home from which they come. In many homes, children are left neglected where the social media, their friends and of course technology are their advisors. I wonder at times how many mothers, in particular, sit down and have a one and one conversation on life and how to deal with it. I wonder sometimes how many mothers have become their children’s best friend where they open up freely to them in confidence.

There is a lack of parental guidance in many homes, since in many cases it is a matter of letting the children do want they want to, rather than as the bible says, train up in child in the way he should go, so that when he is old, he would not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6. In training, children are to be guided and not children being the parent and making the decision. Far too often we hear the talk,” me cah go wid him/her”. How sad, it [shows] that the parent lacks the authority in the home. Also, the lack of discipline.

What about role models? Are we as parents showing our children good examples? How do we handle conflicts? Are we able to effectively deal with issues by good communication?

About communication, far too often it is the phone and peers are the communicators, rather than the parents.

I have seen and heard where children demand things and get it. In some cases, it is the child who determines what he or she wants to do and how to deal with situation. The parent is left without any authority in the home. When this takes place, it is a recipe for disaster.

Social media is playing a big role in the development of children, rather than the parent. Christ and the bible is lacking in far too many homes. Yes there is a rise in many religions, but a decrease in Godly living both individually and collectively, including the homes. Therefore, it is time we put Christ back into our lives and home and not just a religious front where we go to church and in some cases are mainly entertained, but lack the biblical depth. Let us go back to basics, where praying for and with our children is done. Let us get back to the bible where it becomes our guide and most of all, let us get back to God, and put him first in our lives and our homes.

When we put these things back into our homes, we would have a reduction in murders. Let us take responsibility and not play the blame game. Let us as parents seek to improve in our responsibilities and let us by God’s grace have a healthy home environment and so raise up good, godly children and not criminals.

Kennard King