Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Responsibility

     I am not a person that takes responsibilities lightly.  As a child growing up in various places around the United States, my parents were rarely around.  My father was also in the U.S. Navy and spent months on end, deployed to various parts of the world's oceans.
My mother spent many hours out of the home, working as a waitress or other non-skilled labor jobs.
     There were five children in our household, one of whom was terminally ill.  My father says this is the reason that he stayed in the U.S. Navy.  As the military provided medical benefits for the service member and his or her family.
     As we moved about every two years, I remember our family struggling financially.  I remember getting new clothes only a few times in my child hood.  Most of the clothing that I wore were items handed down from my older brother.  The food we ate was nothing special.  My mother would make some pretty tasty dishes every few months but mostly, we ate dinner out of a cardboard box, typically "Hamburger Helper".  To this day, I cringe when I see that stuff on the shelf in the grocery store.
     By this time you are probably wondering where I am going with this train of thought.  I grew up believing that we as a people, strive to do what we can to give our children a better life than we experienced.  I personally worked long and hard to be selected and approved for my promotion to Master Chief.  I knew that less than 1.5% of the U.S. Navy is able to hold that title at any given time.  It would not be an easy task.  So I did everything I could possibly do, to ensure that I did my job better and cleaner than anyone else.
     That tactic was very successful.  I'm sure that tactic would be successful in any job.  It just takes some discipline and desire.  The desire for me was actually quite simple.  I had my son to think about.  But having a son to think about was actually something that I had scoffed about for many years.
     As I grew up in the U.S. Navy, I vowed to keep my private life simple.  I kept any girlfriend at a distance, not wanting to get involved until I knew I would be able to support a comfortable lifestyle.  I kept having "flashbacks" of my childhood.  My family struggled and I didn't like the way that felt.
     My pay as a Master Chief when I retired was a small fortune compared to my father's pay in 1976.  I looked up his pay in the archives and he was making just over $1000 a month.  My family was eligible for "food stamps" during that period of time.  Yes, a Chief in the U.S. Navy (my father's rank) with a family was paid so poorly that they were eligible for federal subsistence.  A sad period in the history of our country.
     Raising children is no small task, but if we as parents instill a good set of "core values" in our young children, the rest of gets easier.  We as adults have to ensure that we are setting a good example for our children.  If you tell your child stealing is really bad and rob a bank once a week, your child will grow up to be a bank robber.
     I have always made it a point to do a few things with my son everyday.  I talk with him about his day, I talk with him about his school work, I talk with him about anything he learned that day in school that he doesn't fully understand and lastly I always encourage him to do the best that he can do.
     My son understands the value of a dollar.  He has no sense of entitlement and he knows that if he wants something, he is going to have to work to obtain that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
     So I say to all of you parents that spend your days and work and think that the public school system is a free daycare program, you are setting your children and this country up for failure.  Your inattention is sending your child the wrong message.  Your child will not think school is important if you don't show him/her interest in their work and social development.
     Our children are the future of this country and to be honest, I am afraid.  Volunteering in the local school this past year has really opened my eyes.  Parents are working sometimes 2 and 3 jobs to make ends meet and don't take out time to talk with their children.  There are also the parents whom are unemployed and have been for an extended period of time.  Some of them just sit at home with a defeatist attitude and seem to have just given up.  What kind of message are you sending your child?
     We sent a "journal" home with each student everyday that outlines what they did in class that day and what they had for homework.  We asked the parents to sign the journal each day.  It was pretty amazing how many parents didn't look at the journal.
     We as a nation have come very far.  We went from a few boat loads of puritans to the world's only super power.  Then we became complacent.  In the last 10 years, "WE" have allowed our government to do pretty much anything they want.  We have allowed some organizations, that have hidden socialist agendas, to infiltrate society, gain a foothold and convince many that they are entitled to medical care, housing, food and a worry free life.
     Take the time to read the constitution.  Our founding fathers did not attempt to offer any of these things.  The constitution is there to protect the inalienable rights afforded to us all by "Our creator".  Our government is NOT a democracy, it is a republic.  There is a big difference.  If you didn't pick that information up when you were in school, shame on you.  You are probably one of those that think you are entitled.