Every Parent’s Duty to the Next Generation.

Each year, as I grow, one of the most striking observations is how different life continues to change progressively right in front of my eyes. Some of the changes are good, but some of the subconscious ideas, are in fact dangerous for the well-being of children and our youth. If you ask some or most adults living today to compare their childhood to how children are growing up today, one of the answers you may get is that children growing up in today’s society are exposed to too much ideas than they did at a younger and fragile age. As we all know, we are living in the information age.

For a better change, it will be great if as parents, we can continue to increase outdoor play time for children and decrease screen times on phones and computers. Studies have shown that too much screen time may negatively impact the cognitive learning process of children.

It is also essential for each parent to teach our children about God and what God expects from each one of us. Micah 6: 8 states:” He hath shewed thee, O man what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humble with thy God ?”

For example, it is a great idea for the family to have daily devotions with God every morning before the children go to school. This personal time spent with the children and God will strengthen and remind the children to behave themselves well at school, the time spent will increase the family bond, and most importantly will allow children and parents/guardians to spent time with our Heavenly Father, who gives guidance, purpose and protection for our lives. While growing up as a teenager, I remember during our devotional studies , my mother and my father will pray for their children to have retentive memories to study at school and the prayers of my parents have gone a long way into making all their children successful adults.

If possible, it is important for parents to read stories to children at bedtime for as long as possible to enhance our parental- children family bond.

Economically speaking, it is also important to teach children slowly but progressively about savings, investing money and about how money works, so they can use money as a positive tool that will help them build a brighter future. Ideas to be taught include telling our children to take advantage of opening a Roth Individual Retirement account once they start working. One advantage of a Roth Individual Retirement Account is that since it is an aftertax money account, it gets the opportunity to growth, and compound interests on the childs behalf, which will lead to money the child will not have to pay taxes on when they take that money from their account. As Parents and Guardians, it is our duty to teach each child early about the positive and negative impact of credit cards. It is also important to teach children about ways to manage and avoid unnecessary debts.

Thank God, there are many responsible young adults doing amazing things for our society and they should be acknowledged for their positive impacts on our society.

However, in our modern society, there is an increased opioid and alcohol endemic going on across our nation.

As parents, we must continue to be vigilant and pro-active to warn our children about avoiding illegal and unprescribed drugs such as Marijuana, oxycodone, cocaine,meta- amphetamines, etc. As a physician, I had to managed a young adult in her twenties who had overdosed on illegal drugs. We as parents must reach our children first before the sellers or friends of our children get to them. There are many programs available to help young adults addicted to illegal drugs, such as narcotic anonymous. However like they say, prevention is better than the cure.

Positive parental guidance shields our children from unnecessary headaches and points them towards building a future that will benefit the child, his/her family, and most importantly the society as a whole, because every one responsible young male or female can contribute to the stability of our society.

Last week, one of my patients was admitted to the hospital for uncontrolled Hyperglycemia and Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. He plainly told me Doc, I have been an alcoholic since the age of 18, and am still trying to fight this disease at the age of 50. He had been to numerous alcoholic anonymous programs but relapsed many times in the past. Prior to his discharge from the hospital, thankfully his brother and sister had arranged with the hospital Social Worker and enrolled this patient in an intensive alcohol rehabilitation problem to help him. Sadly his case of alcohol dependence is one example of many alcohol addiction problem facing our nation.

In conclusion as Parents and Guardians, we must commit the time to spend and teach our children about the importance of God, virtue, stewardship, accountability, personal investment, and the avoidance of alcohol use and drug use. Proverbs 22: 6 states: ” Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. “

If you or someone you know is addicted to alcohol or illegal drugs, there is help to change your life around. You can contact this national hotline number at 1-800-662-4357 for information on programs for drug addiction and mental health programs. You can also contact your local town community service board for more help.

from Kofi Amo-Mensah, MD.