We (the author and his family)
live in "The land of dry snow" and have all kinds of coca derived
stuff on the streets as well as mary-johana and who knows what all else.
Probably the most commonly seen "drug" is good ol' fashioned contact
cement in a plastic bag. You see little kids huffing the stuff all over certain
parts of the city.
We've done some work with addicts here and have learned a lot.
We've pulled back for now on that front because it's so labor intensive and we
need to raise up leaders before anything else and junkies do not leaders make.
But of all the guys we've worked with the same factors keep
coming to the fore.
1. Lousy family life.
2. Absentee fathers (related to #1)
3. Easily available money (amazing how many of these folks
down here have relatives in the US or Europe who send them money)
4. No moral upbringing.
If you want to keep YOUR kids and grandkids off drugs (of any
sort) you'd better be well involved in their lives. Hold them accountable. Give
them a good example. I know some of you guys have messed up in one way or
another over the years. There's a tendency to say "well, I messed up so I
can't hold my kids accountable." Processed male bovine feed. If you've
messed up royally (in ANY area) you've got even MORE reason to say "Don't
follow MY mistakes. LEARN from them and save yourself the heartache."
The best thing you can do for your kids is be a good husband.
Love your wife. In the Biblical sense. Provide a stable home environment for
your kids. Take time to listen to them. Take time to talk to them about life.
Talk to them about what's going on in your community. Don't hesitate to use
unpleasant happenings as teaching points.
If you want to drug proof your kids, YOU are the key. Don't go
waiting for the government to "do something". Your kids are YOUR
responsibility. Don't expect the schools, Sunday School or extra curricular
activities to do the job of raising your kids. There's NO substitute for hands
on child rearing. It's a battle. An effort. A pain. And a royal blessing too -
if you make the effort.
Set up limits and perimeters around your kids. Let them know
what time they will be coming home. Know where they are and with whom. Make it
clear to them what you expect from them in a positive way. Praise them when they
do good. Give them rewards for outstanding performance when you can. DON'T spoil
them with abundant "stuff" as a substitute for YOU being with them.
People take to much time for work to provide their kids with THINGS when what
the kids need are their parents.
Most of the drug problem goes directly back to absentee
parenting. The city is a horrid place to raise kids unless one parent can be
there for them. The TV is no substitute for Mom and Dad's involvement in their
lives.
I guess I've rambled on enough for now. It can all be summed
up by: "Be proactive, loving, strict parents who teach their kids right
from wrong." If you allow your kids to be taught moral relativism then
you've lost the battle. There IS a right and a wrong. There IS black and white
in many areas of life. Help your kids to see the difference and forget the PC
puke that's being spouted all over our land.
