The Greatest Love of All

Children are the future. But what is the point of having children today? The world is filled with adults suffering from heavy schedules, emotionally troubled minds, addictions, and so much more ... Demanding financial obligations and the general rat-race keep adults so busy that the hours left in each day leaves little to be desired for parenting.

The world is dealing with high statistics of children that suffer. And as each year passes the statistics seem to climb. There are children with mental health problems who will never build on their future. There are children who suffer obesity, eating disorders or addictions that will possibly never live their future. There are children who are emotional; delinquent; wayward; aggressive; disruptive; anti-social; drinking and experimenting with drugs at much younger ages than in the past. There are children who are sexually active, promiscuous at tender ages, dealing with unwanted pregnancies and choices of whether to abort or not. Their future may be re-shaped. But what kind of scars will remain with them?

How many children are on some kind of medication or getting therapy? What sets the emotional or attention-seeking problems? Why are we looking at teen anxiety, depression and suicide? Do we blame parents, the rat-race or peer pressure? Are social changes and technology to blame? With the wide variety of social networking websites, children are exposed to a lot of - invariably undesirable - subjects. Whether children suffer physically or mentally, the point to understand is that they are suffering.

Children are the future and that is why parents should take their roles more seriously. If couples are really planning to have children they should responsibly accept the fact that parenting requires a lot of patience and sacrifice. They should know that quantity time and quality time are merely phrases. Spending actual time with their children is very important for their children's well-being. Children crave love and attention. Neglecting to spend time with them leaves them with a feeling of emptiness. They eventually seek love and attention elsewhere ... Showing children the necessary respect and consideration through time, guidance and good communication will help them to make the right decisions in life. They will feel loved and secure even if the world they're living in is filled with problems.

A family should work as a 'united front'. The time spent with children creates a strong emotional bond that protects children, especially when they're teenagers facing peer pressure and all kinds of changes. Communication improves and they feel more comfortable approaching their parents with their problems. A sense of differentiating between right and wrong is instilled and appreciation for each other develops. Parents are the ones who need to show their children how to live life to its fullest. Parents are the role models helping their children to rely on their own inner strength (to deal with life and cope with problems, rather than external forces - like drugs). Parents are the ones who make children realize that every mistake made is a stepping stone; a learning experience.

In the end, it is important to understand what the role of parenting is. Parents (whether coupled or single) are endeavouring to nourish and guide their children in such a way that when they leave home, at whatever age, they will be capable, confident and responsible adults. If children are the future, a greater effort should be made by all responsible adults to protect children now and so create a future filled with stable, happy and successful adults.

Take a few minutes and read or listen to the lyrics of Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All". There's a message!