What were you doing at 9?
I read this story and it truly touched my heart. I can't remember anything but good times in my life at 9. That was the first time I went to Disney World, I was in the 3rd grade, had a lot of friends, life was grand. So when I read that a 9 year old hung themselves in the bathroom at school, I couldn't even think what would drive a child to do this. I can't imagine what will go through the minds of these parents. I know they will dissect every second that they spent trying to identify signs that this might be about to occur. But it will still be too late.
9 year old boy hangs self in bathroom
What is going on people? I don't understand. There were things that I didn't even know EXISTED when I was 9. Are we so desensitized and surrounded by violence now that kids know of ways to take themselves out if they want to? I think the most violent thing I watched at 9 was Tom and Jerry. I get nervous when my 2 boys (5 and 4) run around the house talking about "blasting and light sabres" from lego star wars. They get rambunctious enough with just that. I couldn't imagine letting them see the real thing with people getting their hands sliced off, sons killing fathers, mentally choking the life out of people, etc. Even the GI Joe movie and Transformers were too adult for kids to watch, but daily my son comes home from school asking if he can watch it because his little friends were playing it, or discussing it on the playground and he feels left out.
You can control only so much in your own home. What happens when you let your children go out into the world and the others that surround them teach them of these "worldly things?" Daily, my oldest child comes home with questions about things that we'd prefer him not know about. But to not answer those questions is like sending him to war without "weapons", so you must prepare them. I'd rather him learn the truth from me, so that I can introduce him to certain topics and ideas properly and accurately, than another child brutally take his innocence away from him by giving him misinformation.
I think as parents that we need to be more involved with our children. I mean truly involved. We always like to blame what we do during our days (work) with why we don't have time to do things. But we're to the point now to where our children are coming up in a very "adult-oriented" world. Children are experimenting with sex younger and younger, and children are also learning of violence at a younger age. A lot of children aren't able to handle the world we live in, they can't separate fact and fiction. If violence is all they're surrounded with, they can't foster any hope or positivity. They think all of the world is evil and it will only get worse. They're not allowed to stay innocent children anymore, so for their own sake, TEACH THEM!! They're being stripped of their childhoods by being introduced to the "world" too soon. Do you know what your child did today at school? Ask them about their day, who their friends are, what they like to do. BE INVOLVED!!!
When I went to Jr. High, I had it pretty rough due to my weight and I was considered "nerdy." I got picked on daily.. That was a very rough time for me. Every kid, I'm sure, has a story of a rough period they had to endure going through their scholastic careers. If not, they were probably the ones picking on kids like me. How those that are picked on deal with it normally has to do with the support system they have, or the relationship they have with those that they can trust enough to come to. So many of us assume that we know our kids, but there's so much that goes on throughout the day that they either don't tell or would rather forget. Protect your children, give them knowlege, nurture them for as long as you can.
Then there's the kids that are doing things they know are wrong, but fear rebelling against their peers for fear of being picked on as well. The "If you can't beat'em join'em mentality". That's just as bad. Kids will end up doing something that could potentially shape the rest of their lives. Give them an avenue to escape. Show them an alternative. Let them know you're there to protect them. SHOW SOME INTEREST IN YOUR CHILD!!!
A conversation could save your child's life.
January 25th, 2010 - 09:21
This story was very sad. And all that you said is very true. The problem is that we do not have enough parents in the world to raise the children in it. Sure there are the people who created and gave birth to the child, but that is where their responsibility ended. Or should I say that is where they left their responsibility. Everyone has an excuse as to why they can’t do for their kids, may it be financial or not. And the ones that are financially able are the worst. They are the parents that choose to let money raise the child(ren). They hire in house nannys, babysitters, daycare, or send them to good old granny. Sure, they have to work to be able to provide. We all do. But that three year old can’t drive that BMW that the overtime paid for. That nine year old can’t ask the X-Box how to throw a football. That twelve year old girl can’t ask her friends at the mall what sex is. That fifteen year old boy should not learn about the dangers of weed from his buddies. But that is what society has driven parents to allow.
Therefore, it is our duty as parents to raise our kids to the best of our abilities.
January 25th, 2010 - 10:06
Its very sad for the 9 year old and the guilt with which the parents might live the rest of their life can’t be even imagined .Parents are so busy trying to give kids all they require but sometime forget to ask what they actually need .. Sometime just a listening ear might be all , that was needed ….Many times when my kids try to speak to me , I tell them not now , later , and then forget to even ask them what they were trying to tell ..This really helped me to rethink my priorities
March 15th, 2010 - 15:56
(Proverbs 22:6) . . . Train up a boy according to the way for him; even when he grows old he will not turn aside from it.
(Deuteronomy 6:7) and you must inculcate them in your son and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.
(Ephesians 6:4) And YOU, fathers, do not be irritating YOUR children, but go on bringing them up in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah.