Different Drug Problem

Different drug problem……………………

Editor’s note:
The following letter has appeared on the internet and was viewed by many readers. Many felt it would be appropriate for the readers of Avoyelles Parish.

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, “Why didn’t we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?”

I replied, I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn’t put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity. I was drug out to pull weeds in mom’s garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad’s fields. I was drug to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood, and, if my mother had even known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today’s children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

God bless the parents who drugged us.

(submitted by concerned citizen)

I love this article! And I truly believe that if parents went back to the days of being REAL PARENTS instead of their kids best friend, this world would be a much better place. Kindness, respect, compassion, respect, oh...and I did I mention respect, will go a long way in setting up children for a bright future. Making a connection with your children, opening up lines of communication and actually being involved in their lives can really help children to grow up to be amazing adults.

I know there are many parents reading this right now who are thinking I'm off my rocker and that I am not a parent yet so how can I even have an honest opinion? All I can say is, at least we have a plan to teach our children kindness, respect, compassion and have an major role in their lives. And that's already doing more than lots of the parents I know who have uncontrollable children, children who have been "labelled" with some sort of a condition, children who have been medicated to control their behavior because their parents are just too tired to try or just don't know what to do and both parents and their children who are so chaotic that everyone dreads being around them.

There are parents right now thinking, "oh, you think it's so easy...just you wait until you have your own kids." And I agree. It's not easy. It's hard. It's tiring. It's stressful. It's frustrating. Yes, it's all of those things. And I really can't wait to have my own kids and experience all of the struggles. But the plan is to face them head on. The plan is to be a responsible parent who takes control and leads our children in the right direction....kicking and screaming if we have to. But we're the parents. It's our job. And nobody said it will be easy.

Will we raise perfect children? Absolutely not. How boring would that be? But will you enjoy being around us and our children? Well, that's what we'll strive for. Our kids will complain when they have to help out with things around the house, or go places they don't want to go or do things they'd rather not. But, in the end, they'll be better people for it.

Thank you to whomever wrote this article. I hope it brings insight to a lot of parents out there.