Introduction
Though few pursuits are as rewarding as being a parent, raising children in the 21st Century is pretty hard work. Today’s children and youth know more than their parents did at the same age, they’re exposed to more information, good and bad, on TV and the internet, and they are more likely to argue with their parents, teachers and other adults. That’s not to say they’re worse than kids used to be. They’re simply different - perhaps a little more sophisticated - and raising them is more complicated.
As well, the world is a different place than the one today’s parents grew up in. Aside from the information revolution, more of the population live in cities now, and those cities are larger, less intimate, and less supportive of families. In fact it often seems that families are viewed by politicians as just another “special interest group”.
As well, neighbours don’t seem to know each other all that well today, since people move around more than they once did. As a result, parents are less likely to live near extended family members, so don’t have family support when child-rearing problems come up. Previous generations of parents had a lot more help, and learned how to handle child-rearing problems partly from the advice and support of their parents, grandparents, extended family and even close friends and neighbours. Few parents have that “village” to help raise their kids today.
The point is that parents should not feel bad if they need to seek help now and then in dealing with the misbehaviour of their children and teens. Whether they read parenting books (there are lots of them out there and many are very good), consult local school support staff, take a parenting course, watch a TV show on parenting or visit a local social service agency for counselling, getting help just makes sense if you feel overwhelmed.
And some of the behaviour that seems overwhelming to parents is often rooted in anger and aggression.