Is It Just Me.......?

Or, am I right to be a little concerned about the way kids are being raised these days.....or should I say NOT being raised?  Have you taken a close look at the young generation coming up behind us?  Does it make you worry or shake in your boots thinking about what this world is going to be like 20-30 years from now?  Have you passed a school lately as it is letting out (or even in the middle of the day, when the students should be in the building but hanging outside on the corners?)?  Have you, like me, seen enough of young men's underware sticking out the top of their pants that are hanging so low that they are unable to even take two steps...they don't walk....they 'shuffle'.  And, tell me....why do we have sidewalks?  When I was growing up, we actually walked on them and left the streets for the traffic to use.  Not today!  We might as well be driving on the sidewalks because the kids have taken over the streets; the streets are their new sidewalks and don't you dare try to maneuver your car through them because they won't move!!!  What really worries me is the ATTITUDE that is being instilled in our children these days.  "I deserve", "I want, therefore I should have", and my favorite "You owe me".  What the heck is going on?  They have absolutely no respect for any adult figure, whether it be a parent, teacher or even law enforcement.  And, the language coming out of their mouths....it practically makes my hair curl (and I have natually straight hair!)

Case in Point:  The other day, it was a beautiful afternoon so Grandpa and I decided to take a walk around our block with our dog Sparkles.  We were having a very good time until we got around to the side of the block where the kids come down from the two schools around the corner from us.  There must have been, I would say 8-10 kids; boys (and at least one girl) walking down the middle of the street (refer to first paragraph for why) but when they saw us coming down the sidewalk towards them, they all moved onto the sidewalk.  Why....I have no idea except to show us they were tough? As they approached us and we approached them, I looked them straight in the eyes, smiled and said "Gentlemen".  Some said hi but then all of a sudden one of the girls bashes into Grandpa as she is passing him.  Grandpa kept walking but I stopped dead in my tracks, stopped, turned and stared at this brat of a kid who was now staring back at me with that "Bring it on" look. I stood there, shook my head and was just totally shocked.  WHY was that necessary?  WHY did she feel that it was ok to bash into Grandpa, much less even lay a hand on him?  Luckily, Grandpa who manages to keep his cool in such situations better than I do kept us moving so there was not a major incident.  But, again....I ask WHY?  I sometimes have trouble dealing with mean people, and especially, rude kids.  I don't understand it....what is the reason for it? We were brought up to RESPECT anyone older than us.  It was just a given.  Obviously, that way of bringing up kids is gone, not being taught, not even part of their world.  Heaven help us!!

This does not reflect ALL young people of today....but, how do we start turning this ATTITUDE around?  Can we?  Is it possible?