Have kids changed?
b'
I hear people say that kids have changed.\\xa0
I was thinking about it tonight. Is that true?\\xa0
We are experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers. I can't blame them. I couldn't do it.\\xa0
Why though?\\xa0
Must be because kids have changed.\\xa0
We are seeing a lower number of kids playing youth sports.\\xa0
Why?\\xa0
Must be because kids have changed.\\xa0
They are just getting lazier, right?
We are seeing lower test scores across the board.\\xa0
Why?\\xa0
Must be because kids have changed.
I could keep going but you get my point.\\xa0
Have kids changed?\\xa0
Probably. Maybe not even probably, they have.\\xa0
The real question isn't have they changed but why?\\xa0
Why in one generation have we seen such alarming trends?
Kids will rise up to the expectations they are given at home.\\xa0
Bottom line.\\xa0
Yes kids have changed, but only because their parents allowed it.\\xa0
They allow the disrespect.\\xa0
They allow laziness.\\xa0
They allow mediocre results.\\xa0
They allow half assed efforts and say it's good enough.\\xa0
They allow YouTube to kill the time that sports and sitting down for dinner as a family once filled.\\xa0
They allow mindless videos be watched instead of books being read.\\xa0
I thought about this tonight as I watched a group of girls bust their tails at basketball practice.\\xa0
Half of whom came straight from softball practice.\\xa0
They all had to have been exhausted because nearly everyone of them jump roped in Lubbock last night.\\xa0
Yet they were there putting in the work.\\xa0
Hustling until the last minute.\\xa0
They all make good grades. They are respectful and kind to their peers and teachers. They all lift each other up.\\xa0
Why?\\xa0
Would they do it on their own?\\xa0
Maybe.\\xa0
I think most would at some level.\\xa0
Not the level they do though.\\xa0
I think the difference is that it is the expectation from their parents.\\xa0
It starts at home. Bottom line.
If we want to see change in our schools, our communities, and our nation, it starts at home.\\xa0
We can't blame teachers.\\xa0
We can't blame coaches.\\xa0
We can only blame ourselves when our children do not thrive.\\xa0
They will rise to the expectations you set.\\xa0
We are their examples.\\xa0
I saw some tired moms and dads tonight set an example for their kids. They were spent but showed up anyways.\\xa0
Kids have changed but only because parents have let them.\\xa0
I may be biased but I think it's a pretty special group of girls. I've been blessed to coach all of them in multiple sports the last 5-6 years.
www.liveitfull.com