Being Warriors

I try not to be a "doom and gloom" kind of person. I do admit that the world we live in is so different from the way it used to be. I used to close my eyes to it, thinking that it would get better but times "they are getting hard".

Last Friday, I talked a man off of the ledge. He was suicidal and somehow, called my number at work, by mistake. I spent over 30 minutes convincing him that there was hope. I told him that if he chose to end his life, then it would be on my shoulders for not helping him to see that there was hope. I spoke to him today and he is getting help. (I will continue to check on him.)

We need to stand up to all that is going on in our homes, in our families, our friends and in our neighborhoods. We need to say, "This isn't going to happen in my house." It's so easy to dismiss things as "Not a big deal" but it is...a big deal, that is. 

My bonus baby is almost 15 (in a couple of more weeks). I have forgotten how hard it is to be a teen and to raise teens. When my daughters were in their teens, I wasn't afraid to say, "Nope, that's not acceptable!" but today, it seems like parents are afraid to put their foot down.

We can't expect kids to treasure family time if we are so plugged into electronics and the tv that we have no clue  what is going on around us.

We can't expect our kids to make good choices in friends if we are so busy enabling the people around us, being afraid to really say what we think.

We can't expect our kids to eat right and get out and enjoy the world around them, if we make poor eating choices and buy the junky foods that they crave.

We can't expect them to love reading when we don't pick up books to read ourselves.

Kids learn what they live and what they learn mainly comes from those around them.

But, who is in control??? 

We have got to take a stand and stop trying to be "parent of the year".

Speak up when their friends aren't treating them respectfully.

Speak up when they aren't living out their potential.

Speak up when they are disrespectful and inconsiderate.

Love on them when they need to know they are loved but speak truths in their lives too.

Build a support system that will be there when times are tough. 

Set boundaries and not allow those boundaries to be crossed.

Never be afraid to admit when you are afraid.

Be a warrior!