In the Houston Chronicle on July 20, Art Linkletter had some words of wisdom concerning *What Ails Todays' Kids...." He explained thusly:

1) ADD (attention deficit disorder) for antsy kids who don't want to sit still in a classroom. 2) ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) for the worst among ADD group. 3) ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) for those who don't do what they're told or who have bad tempers.

Then Art came up with another label: 4) PADD (parental attention deficit disorder) then he said, "While mothers used to stay home with children at least until they reached school age, if not permanently, today the typical American mother returns to the work when her baby is just a few weeks old. As a result, day care is a booming industry, and many schools offer 'all day' kindergartens and 'after school care' in order to fill in for parents who aren't home. But don't blame moms. Most of them are just trying to help make ends meet."

Art concludes by saying, "Parents who fail to keep a proper sense of priorities can cause a deficit of parental time and attention for their own children." In a final analysis, it's a matter of priorities.

Anybody agree/disagree with our friend, Art Linkletter?

Nelta http://members.xoom.com/atlen/

-- Anonymous, October 14, 2000

Answers

Sorry Malcom.....

I don't buy the "blaming moms" business.

The logic that says...."It's moms working outside the home that is destroying families".....could also be turned around and say..."It was moms staying home during the 60's that caused all the youthful rebellion." It just doesn't follow.

At times in my 24 years of marriage my wife has had to work outside the home....but it was not a problem.

Here is why.....as a father I took a very pro-active role in my children's lives....even sometimes being the only father on a kindergarten field trip!!

That is the problem with American families....absentee fathers....both physically and emotionally in the lives of their children.

I find it extremely interesting that "modern psychology" has started to emphasize the role of fathers in the emotional development of children.

Duh!!! I've been teaching what I believe the Bible to say for the last 19 years!!!!

God gave children two parents for good reasons. Marriage is a partnership....most especially in child rearing.

Quit throwing the failures of men.....onto moms!!!

-- Anonymous, October 17, 2000

I both agree and disagree with Art Linkletter. I agree with him when he says that "Parents who fail to keep a proper sense of priorities can cause a deficit of parental time and attention for their own children." However, I disagree with him when he said, "But don't blame moms. Most of them are just trying to help make ends meet." For the most part, what I have observed is not that they are trying to make ends meet, but rather they are trying to have their "wants". There are very few Americans who are satisfied with just having their needs taken care of. We want the extras too! We want the new cars, the bigger houses, the "disneyland" vacations, going out to eat, recreational trips and toys and a host of other "wants". Maybe I can't blame "mom" entirely; for after all, many times it is because the "dad" has a great desire to fulfill all his "wants" that he convinces the "mom" to go to work to "make ends meet". But I don't believe that the majority of the time it is simply "to make ends meet", but rather, because we have so many things we "want" [not need] that we ask mom to get a job and thus, leave the children lacking for parental time and attention.

I will have to admit that there are some cases (and I believe they are often rare in the United States) that a mom [in a two parent family] really HAS to work just to make ends meet. But most often, I believe [based on what I have observed], it is because dad and mom have some wants, not needs, they want to be able to buy.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2000

Malcam, your post was exactly as I feel. In fact, on another list I posted the same thoughts. Thanks!

I didn't follow the thread Alan was on but did I just read that he said he was a non-Jew? Aren't they the ones who cannot bring themselves to say or write the word God, without leaving out the O>

Just wondering!

Nelta

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2000

Hello Danny and all:

Danny, I believe you are right in most all of what you say. Men are the spiritual leaders of the home...setting the stage for a family following God. I can't remember the scripture in the O.T. right now but the command was for men (I think) training the children in spiritual matters. Course it takes both parents living for God to train the children.

Where I see something differently is in the roles God assigned to the parents. Women are told to be keepers of the home. They are told to teach the younger women to love their children. The men are told to support the family by the principle of "He who does not support his family is worse......" paraphrased.

I believe today the roles are switching and getting all mixed up. Sometimes some men decide the wife makes more money than his job does so he will be the keeper of the home while the wife supports the family. Not only do I see this going against God's plan for the home, but the characteristics of the male/female are smothered.

My opinion!

Nelta

-- Anonymous, October 17, 2000