Looking around and watching the world go by can be interesting. No, I’m not saying you should sit and do nothing in life but watch it pass by. You should occasionally though look at the story’s arc. I’ve had some time as of late to do that and if I were to sum things up in a single word it would be “Blur”. Technology is advancing so fast new becomes old by the time we’re having fun with it. Politics in American is a constantly shifting thing completely without focus or permanence. Party positions change so dramatically from election to election, new parties emerge (Green, Tea, Coffee) while older ones redefine themselves. One day a maverick the next not, for fiscal responsibility then oppose tax increases, positions regarding health care, immigration, bailouts all changing so fast you risk whiplash trying to keep up. Lines once marked, not in the sand but in our laws on issue such as abortion, marriage, illegal drugs, guns all blurring.

I’ll be the first to point out I can at times exhibit a stubborn streak on these and other topics. Things like slippery slope, and how moving the line marking what is acceptable changes an absolute into a matter of opinion and thus open to endless interpretation are likely to come from me. I’ve often been warned to never discuss politics or religion with friends or family because of the arguments that may result unless I’m willing to risk losing or at the very least damaging the relationship. Also, I’ve lived long enough to learn that what works me may not work for someone else. There are, though, some blurring I just don’t understand when it comes to how kids are getting raised and any help out there among you all would be appreciated.

FYI, I enjoy bringing up both religion and politics at social gatherings.  It’s so much fun and because I am blessed to have great, intelligent family and friends any and all heated arguments are no threat to wilt our relationships. Please consider yourselves thoroughly buttered because Stubborn Me has arrived.

Why are some parents being so damn selfish when part of good parenting is making sacrifices? What am I talking about? I’m talking those folks a few rows down from me in the theater watching [insert inappropriate film such as Dark Knight] with their seven year old kids. I’m talking about the minivan blasting the gangster (or is it gansta?) rap unloading the kids for ballet class. I’m talking about the mom at the checkout line asking the little kid to hand them the copy of GTO (Grand Theft Auto) they’ve been holding as if it were the One Ring so they can pay for it while the kid’s going on about how he can’t wait till “we get to play”. And don’t get me started about parents choosing a venue to celebrate that’s unfit or unsafe for their kids say like near a body of water when no one can swim. Let’s face it, the adult in each case simply doesn’t want to do without things they’d enjoy just because they now have kids. How hard is it to not go to the movie when a sitter isn’t an option or choose something else to listen to in the car?

Life’s no longer just about you when you choose to raise a child. So start honestly thinking about them instead of making a token effort. Don’t try to rationalize things or seek cover by saying others are doing it too or that you’ll just distract them during the bad parts, or, my two favorites, stuff like this and worse is in the news all the time and they’ll just get this stuff from friends at school.

They’re all copouts and I’d have a little more respect for you if you just come out and say in a whiney adolescent tone, “But I wanna!!” and feel free to complete the image by throwing yourself onto the ground and flail wildly. Yeah, I’d respect you a little more for your honestly. Plus it might be amusing and I could really use the laugh.

The gauntlet has been thrown.  Who among you will pick it up?