Nice folks do really win!

Summer 2005

Dear GrannyJo,

This is more of a rant so I'm not sure you'll be able to answer this but I'm really upset and you seemed like a good outlet so here's my issue: How come we never hear about what kids are doing right?!? The news is always showing stories of graffiti and vandalism, car crashes and kidnapping, drugs and robberies done by younger people. Is this what my children can look forward to for their "peers"? How come it seems we only hear these bad stories? I knew some bad apples when I was growing up but we were all mostly good kids. It makes me feel very bleak and worried about the future. Have things really gotten that bad?

Mad About the Bad

Dear Mad,

I understand your concerns and know that it sometimes can seems as if we're all going to that really hot place in a handbasket. But I encourage you to stop and take a deep breath. Much of our attitudes really depend on our perspective. And perspective is really influenced by what you see, who you're listening to and where you're getting your information. Plus, it's an unfortunate tendency of human nature that we seem to be more comfortable criticizing someone than complimenting them.

So, if the things you're mentioning in your email are things you've seen in news stories, your perspective is actually skewed by media bias. Their job is to get you to watch and listen - day after day. So through the use of sensationalism they shock people into watching their shows. Just like that weird tendency to rubber neck at an accident (personal plea: please don't be a rubbernecker - help if you're needed or go about you way) people are morbidly pulled to attention grabbing information and surprisingly less so toward boring, happy stories. Some TV stations will, on a less frequent basis, highlight a youth sports story so the station gets to feel they are presenting "balanced" reporting.

However, for a more accurate read on how things in your own community are working successfully with young people, contact your local volunteer groups or school programs. Especially at this time of year there are celebrations and events to honor those young people of all ages who have offered their services as tutors, organized food drives, volunteered to plant trees or clean a beach - any number of positive contributions that their families or their schools have encouraged.

So we've looked at the contribution of national and local news, then at your local community, now let's bring it in even closer still at look to your own family. If you value positive contributions for the greater good or even if you want your children to know they can make positive things happen in their world, how are you handling this in your own family? Parents are their children's earlier role models, so consider how you contribute - financially or of your time, how you support and encourage those helping to make the world a better place and how you share those successes in own family. These will have a much greater impact on your child's world than the sensationalized news. By reaching out to others in need and joining with others who also value that same spirit of giving, you and your child will feel empowered to make a difference, to let others know that there are people who really care and still do good deeds. So don't wait for the next guy, share those compliments for positive actions and give of your family's time and energy because after all...

You’re entitled to your own life, you know,
  GrannyJo

 ParentWorks.com