Sunday, April 18, 2010

Responsible Adult

What are we responsible for?
We are not islands, we do not stand alone. Each of us impacts someone else. If I am driving irresponsibly and rear-end someone, it messes up someone else’s day. They will be late for work or an appointment. If their car must be towed, then someone else’s life is interrupted to get them home, etc.

I have thought many times of the suffering of families of the high profile folk who do the unthinkable, and it makes all the headlines. No matter what you thought of Nixon, his family did not deserve an execution. The same with Jim Bakker and President Clinton, the children did not deserve the hate and nasty attention they received.

What about the rapist, robbers and murderers, the ones who have a wife and family of their own? How do the kids face the taunts and sneers of their peers? We can be mean, we humans.


Then in today’s society when recreational drugs are accepted. Heavy drinking is the norm for some folk. What about the children of the functioning alcoholic? Statistics prove that many children grow up thinking it is normal to get high even pass out over the weekends. They are given the impression that this is what a dad or mom does. It is called freedom to do what you want with your life. BUT no one stands alone, what we do effects many others.
Oh, I have known many folks whose answer is a pat one: ”Hey there are a lot worse folk than me!”
Therefore the term ‘Responsible Adult’. In most cases that is supposed to be a positive statement, but in many cases it is negative, I as a parent, am responsible for what I teach my children, either by my words or my actions, positive or negative.
Crack Cocaine mothers and Alcoholic Abusive Parents are all responsible for what they do. They are responsible or course, but responsible for negative results. So my heart breaks when I see someone ruining their life, and the lives of their children.

I see this in successful folk also. People who have had it all. They start mixing ‘grief’ drugs and alcohol and start a slide that confuses kids, What is happening to my Mom & Dad?
Thanks for reading the log.
Nite Shipslog

PS:
Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up like every two hours?


9 comments:

Coffeeveggie addict. said...

maybe folkss says they sleep like a baby co'z they also turn every seconds like a baby lol!nice post jack...actually,it depends on how we look att it though the parents did something not good them maybe we could change our views with the kids but its the peoples mind who judges always....takecare you and sherry!


hugs,
blue

Paula said...

Good entry Jack. Food for thought.

betty said...

I think sometimes people are sooo "me" focused they can't look beyond what their actions do and how it will impact their loved ones. It is all about satisfying their needs and desires, which is sad. If people would just stop and think before they act, what a kinder world this could be

betty

Anonymous said...

JACK,
I KEEP REMEMBERING MY BUS DRIVER FRIEND WITH HIS PREDICTABLE COMMENT, SUCH IS LIFE.

HE WAS A GOOD LISTENER AND NEVER CRITICIZED FAULTS OF OTHERS. WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN MORE LIKE HIM, EXCEPT I WAS NOT AN ALCOHOLIC DRINKER. THE FRIEND'S NAME WAS BAILEY AND WE ADDRESSED HIM AS 'BALES'.
HIS HOME WAS IN TULSA AND ONCE HE FAILED TO RESPOND TO A CALL FROM THE EXTRA BOARD DISPATCHER IN DALLAS. THAT WAS SERIOUS, MISSING OUT AND THREE HUNDRED MILES FROM HOME.
A COUPLE DAYS PASSED AND A TULSA EXTRA BOARD DRIVER SAID TO OUR DISPATCHER, I MAY KNOW WHERE BALES IS AT THERE IN DALLAS.

THE DISPATCHER SAID, GO FIND HIM SO HE CAN REDEEM HIMSELF AND NOT LOSE HIS JOB.
THE DISPATCHER SHOULD HAVE SENT A NON-DRINKER. ACTUALLY HE DID SEND ANOTHER AND THIS TIME A NON-DRINKER THAT KNEW WHERE THEY WERE.

NOT NICE THOUGH MUST FINISH THE COMMENT. BALES AND HIS FRIEND WERE FOUND SUPPOSEDLY ENJOYING THEIR VISIT, THE LADY FRIEND THAT OWNED THE LIQUOR STORE WAS ALLOWING BALES AND FRIEND TO LIVE IN A SMALL APARTMENT IN THE BACK PART OF THE STORE.

ALL RETURNED TO TULSA AND HAPPILY EVADED BEING CALLED IN TO THE OFFICE OF 'BEAR TRACKS', AND AS YOU MIGHT GUESS, BALES EXPLAINED IT ALL WITH HIS STOCK EXPRESSION, 'SUCH IS LIFE'. sam

Jen said...

Everything we do has an affect on someone else. We can choose to have a positive influence or a negative one. I hope I have had more positive impact than negative. I know I haven't been perfect.

shirl72 said...

It is sad when children grown up in an
enviroment with abusive parents, abusing any substance it is pitiful. They will never know
what happiness can be.

Shirl

Fred Alton said...

Responsible - what a huge word to try and get my mind wrapped around so early in the morning. Personal responsibility is a concept I believe in. I always go to Ezekiel 18 when I think of it. I once read that entire chapter to a church in lieu of a sermon - where I knew there were many accusations against one another in the congregation. It was effective in causing some to see themselves.

Rose said...

I'm sure you opened up a few eyes and ears with this excellent Post.

I've been busy with relatives visiting so I have not been on the computer for awhile.

I always disliked the bullies in school and I've even seen bullies as adults........people with no respect for their families and neighbors.........sad that we have such mean humanes out there. I get upset just listening to the News at night.

Be well my friends,
Hugs, Rose

Dar said...

Oh Jack. I started to read this timely entry this morning., but couldn't finish. We have done our best to nurture and teach, and I am proud to say our own have all turned out wonderful. What troubles me, however, is the young mother I mentioned a week ago. She barely got her fingers slapped, so now, continues to evade responsibility. My poor 7 yr. old grandson is caught in the middle. THAT breaks my heart. All we can do now, is continue to keep him and his mom, in our prayers. Like I said before, with God's help, perhaps my GS can finally come live with his Daddy. That little fella is already More Responsible than his mother. We would like to take some credit for that. A very thought-provoking entry, my friend.
BlessYou