I've just finished reading an article in a British newspaper about how Britain is about to start employing a legion of 'Supernannies' to help rid them of their self-confessed hooligan problem.
Apparently the UK is suffering from an unprecedented number of marauding hooligans that hit old ladies over the head and steal their handbags, assault people in broad daylight and generally cause nothing but trouble.
No doubt the Blair government has been scratching it's collective head about what to do with the problem and has come up with the Supernanny solution.
There's no doubt that helping kids when young makes sense although that help has to encompass the child's entire community as well.
The question for us to ask is whether or not we have the potential for a similar problem to occur here? I don't think we have a massive hooligan problem at the moment but in my daily routine I can't help but notice that things are becoming more and more difficult for parents.
I don't think this is a purposeful thing, simply that society is moving in a way that makes it harder and harder for those who have chosen to bring up the future generation.
Our children's foods are heavily chemically laden which contributes to obesity.
Our media is filled with images of a world where fame is a worthy career goal without the achievement that is supposed to go with it.
We have everything but we are not happy.
Something very profound and very necessary for human survival is going missing.
Many of us try to cover this deficiency with something tangible.
Maybe if we buy a new sofa, dishwasher or toys for the kids, we'll feel better.
The difficult thing to get through to people is that we need less, not more and the more you give your kids, the more they'll want.
No matter how much you give, it still won't be enough because it doesn't address what we or they really need.
It's like trying to feed an insatiable hunger with a low-fat diet.
You may be able to eat as much salad without the dressing as you like, but it leaves you feeling unsatisfied and ultimately still hungry.
People are over-scheduled and stressed like never before and we're passing it on to our kids.
The sad part is it doesn't need to be this way.
All over the world people are waking up and realizing that something is not quite right.
There are go slow movements that try to get us to examine our food choices and capture a sense of times past when we enjoyed our food, conversation and contact with family and friends.
There is the move to create better communities where people interact with each other instead of heading immediately for their garages.
There is light on the horizon.
There is change in the air and if there's anything I want you to take away from this article, it's the following.
Dance in the rain together, enjoy as many meals as you can together.
Hug, laugh, play and remember that wonderful quote from the poem 'Leisure' by W.
H Davies "What is this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.
"
Apparently the UK is suffering from an unprecedented number of marauding hooligans that hit old ladies over the head and steal their handbags, assault people in broad daylight and generally cause nothing but trouble.
No doubt the Blair government has been scratching it's collective head about what to do with the problem and has come up with the Supernanny solution.
There's no doubt that helping kids when young makes sense although that help has to encompass the child's entire community as well.
The question for us to ask is whether or not we have the potential for a similar problem to occur here? I don't think we have a massive hooligan problem at the moment but in my daily routine I can't help but notice that things are becoming more and more difficult for parents.
I don't think this is a purposeful thing, simply that society is moving in a way that makes it harder and harder for those who have chosen to bring up the future generation.
Our children's foods are heavily chemically laden which contributes to obesity.
Our media is filled with images of a world where fame is a worthy career goal without the achievement that is supposed to go with it.
We have everything but we are not happy.
Something very profound and very necessary for human survival is going missing.
Many of us try to cover this deficiency with something tangible.
Maybe if we buy a new sofa, dishwasher or toys for the kids, we'll feel better.
The difficult thing to get through to people is that we need less, not more and the more you give your kids, the more they'll want.
No matter how much you give, it still won't be enough because it doesn't address what we or they really need.
It's like trying to feed an insatiable hunger with a low-fat diet.
You may be able to eat as much salad without the dressing as you like, but it leaves you feeling unsatisfied and ultimately still hungry.
People are over-scheduled and stressed like never before and we're passing it on to our kids.
The sad part is it doesn't need to be this way.
All over the world people are waking up and realizing that something is not quite right.
There are go slow movements that try to get us to examine our food choices and capture a sense of times past when we enjoyed our food, conversation and contact with family and friends.
There is the move to create better communities where people interact with each other instead of heading immediately for their garages.
There is light on the horizon.
There is change in the air and if there's anything I want you to take away from this article, it's the following.
Dance in the rain together, enjoy as many meals as you can together.
Hug, laugh, play and remember that wonderful quote from the poem 'Leisure' by W.
H Davies "What is this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.
"
SHARE
