Sign of the Times, a Sad Statement on Parenting Today (With Video)

[Chris_]

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/27706917

By Laura T. Coffey
TODAYshow.com contributor

Parents, brace yourselves: The survey results are in, and you may not like what they reveal about girls and sex.

More than 10,000 teenage girls and young women took part in an anonymous survey over the summer on TyraShow.com, the Web site of “The Tyra Banks Show.” Survey questions focused on sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy, as well as drinking, drugs and violence among females. Here are some findings from the survey:

...On average, girls are losing their virginity at 15 years of age
.
...14 percent of teens who are having sex say they’re doing it at school.
 
...52 percent of survey respondents say they do not use protection when having sex.

...One in three says she fears having a sexually transmitted disease.

...24 percent of teens with STDs say they still have unprotected sex.

...One in five girls says she wants to be a teen mom.

...About 50 percent acknowledge that they’ve hit someone.

...One out of three teens has tried drugs.

“What surprised me most on the survey is that the girls were so honest, and I think the reason why they were so honest is because the survey was anonymous,” retired model and daytime TV host Tyra Banks told TODAY co-anchor Matt Lauer on Friday. But when some of girls surveyed came onto her show and described their sexual activities, “I was shocked again,” she added. "I don’t think they were trying to be sensational. I really do believe that they were telling the truth.”

<exerpted>

Balance at link......

doc

[NHSparky]

Average age of 15?  Wow.  Given how much "sex-ed" they've been giving to 6-year olds, and how much Mommy and Daddy are letting their daughters dress up like little hookers, I am relieved it's not as low as I feared.

But 15 is still way too young, obviously.  I should know...

[true_blood]

Discipline has gone out the window for sure. I believe in discipline.
Nothing worse than going to a store or a restaurant and hearing the parents yelling at the kids that misbehaving and they just continue or get worse. I think it's sad. Who's the parent again? Kids need to be molded.

[littlelamb]

My 14 year old and I are very open with each other and thanks to help from a friend of mine I was able to explain why he should think twice about having sex so young

[Flame]

Discipline has gone out the window for sure. I believe in discipline.
Nothing worse than going to a store or a restaurant and hearing the parents yelling at the kids that misbehaving and they just continue or get worse. I think it's sad. Who's the parent again? Kids need to be molded.

Discipline has nothing to do with a child having or not having sex, IMO.  Open communication between parents and kids, and constant, repetitive real-life timely conversations about wise choices is much more effective.  From the time my kids were old enough to ask the questions, we answered openly and honestly, and always said it's best to wait, and WHY.

I now have a 17 year old daughter and we still have honest and open conversations about pregnancy, stds, etc.

[njpines]

Discipline has nothing to do with a child having or not having sex, IMO.  Open communication between parents and kids, and constant, repetitive real-life timely conversations about wise choices is much more effective.  From the time my kids were old enough to ask the questions, we answered openly and honestly, and always said it's best to wait, and WHY.

I now have a 17 year old daughter and we still have honest and open conversations about pregnancy, stds, etc.

In my case, there was no communication about it -- my parents were much older than me and there was NO sex before marriage, period. No discussion!

My husband and I are more open to discussion with our 14 yr old boy but the message is still the same.

[AllosaursRus]

Can't say anything about this as "Toots" and I first had sex when she was 15 and I was 18. We were married the following year, had our first kid that year, too!

I do have to say though, it was pretty much the norm in the parts of the country we were from.

37 years later, it seemed to work for us. Divorce in our families is a four letter word! Not so with today's society, where you can drop your spouse because they snore!

[Zeus]

Discipline has nothing to do with a child having or not having sex, IMO.  Open communication between parents and kids, and constant, repetitive real-life timely conversations about wise choices is much more effective.  From the time my kids were old enough to ask the questions, we answered openly and honestly, and always said it's best to wait, and WHY.

I now have a 17 year old daughter and we still have honest and open conversations about pregnancy, stds, etc.

I agree with your post overall. I do disagree with your opening statement though.

The breakdown of parenting like most of societal ills in present times is related to the Ideal that morality is subjective. A people lacking morals lack honor and respect for others. Such a people can hardly be expected to pass down to their children something they themselves lack or don't believe in. No honor or respect leads to/from a lack of discipline.

Some folks though seem to possess all the attributes  one would expect of a Decent and honorable person but for some strange reason when it comes to their children they are more interested in being a bestest buddy than being a parent.

[AllosaursRus]

I agree with your post overall. I do disagree with your opening statement though.

The breakdown of parenting like most of societal ills in present times is related to the Ideal that morality is subjective. A people lacking morals lack honor and respect for others. Such a people can hardly be expected to pass down to their children something they themselves lack or don't believe in. No honor or respect leads to/from a lack of discipline.

Some folks though seem to possess all the attributes  one would expect of a Decent and honorable person but for some strange reason when it comes to their children they are more interested in being a bestest buddy than being a parent.

To tell ya the truth, if they don't, the damn kids calls 911 and report them! That's what progressive politicians and child physicology "experts" have done to our society!

You can no longer spank your kid for fear of goin' to jail!

[Flame]

I agree with your post overall. I do disagree with your opening statement though.

The breakdown of parenting like most of societal ills in present times is related to the Ideal that morality is subjective. A people lacking morals lack honor and respect for others. Such a people can hardly be expected to pass down to their children something they themselves lack or don't believe in. No honor or respect leads to/from a lack of discipline.

Some folks though seem to possess all the attributes  one would expect of a Decent and honorable person but for some strange reason when it comes to their children they are more interested in being a bestest buddy than being a parent.

I agree with that.   To clarify what I was trying to say, you can't use discipline alone and expect it to deter teen sex.   It doesn't fit into other behavior categories like bad report cards, or breaking curfew.   Morasl and respect for yourself can't be taught in an afternoon, either....it's a lifetime process that I think a lot of parents these days don't bother to teach.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Even with the best possible set-up and communication, nothing's guaranteed.  Hormones and the power to believe what a person wants to believe can be an overpowering combination.  Sometimes even with all the right things done, parental love is presented with a consequence-management rather than a purely preventative situation.  It's not the end of the world and acting like it is doesn't help anything.

It's also important to keep in mind that this survey was basically sampling the Tyra Banks audience, which is a pretty reliable preselection for over-sexualized airhead bimbos in the sampled population.

[Zeus]

Even with the best possible set-up and communication, nothing's guaranteed.  Hormones and the power to believe what a person wants to believe can be an overpowering combination.  Sometimes even with all the right things done, parental love is presented with a consequence-management rather than a purely preventative situation.  It's not the end of the world and acting like it is doesn't help anything.

It's also important to keep in mind that this survey was basically sampling the Tyra Banks audience, which is a pretty reliable preselection for over-sexualized airhead bimbos in the sampled population.

With a firm and consistant message ten pregnancies and/or unwed/unwanted pregnancies can once again become the exception to the rule instead of the norm. There in no such thing as negative consequences any more. To many "safety nets" that aren't dissuading negative behaviors but are emboldening them. Love and respect isn't helping those you love escape the consequence of unacceptable behavior  it is acceptance of the fact that loved ones are prone to all our human failings and further acceptance that at such times we express our love to those that fall but they must accept there lumps with sorrow and humility.

[thundley4]

6-year-old cheerleader voted off of team after risqué cheer controversy

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) - Jennifer Tesch's six-year-old daughter has been removed from the Madison Heights Wolverine flag football cheer team.

The Madison Heights mom contacted Action News last month because she was upset about the words to one of her daughter's cheerleading chants.

The cheer she objects to says "our backs ache, our skirts are too tight, we shake our booties from left to right."

League members were outraged, saying it cast a bad light on the league and she should have handled it internally. They say she overreacted by going to the media.

Link

[AllosaursRus]

With a firm and consistant message ten pregnancies and/or unwed/unwanted pregnancies can once again become the exception to the rule instead of the norm. There in no such thing as negative consequences any more. To many "safety nets" that aren't dissuading negative behaviors but are emboldening them. Love and respect isn't helping those you love escape the consequence of unacceptable behavior  it is acceptance of the fact that loved ones are prone to all our human failings and further acceptance that at such times we express our love to those that fall but they must accept there lumps with sorrow and humility.

How 'bout for a first step, we inform parents of girls under the age of 18 they are lookin' to kill their kid????

If we just did that, the teen pregnancy level would be cut in half!!!! No matter what race or minority!

[Evil_Conservative]

We have a baby girl.  My husband already knows he will have his hands full.

I'm a tough love type of person.  If my daughter gets pregnant before marriage, I'll kill her.  Not literally, of course, but you get where I'm coming from I hope.

My mom used to tell me, at the age of 13, that she would kick me out of the house if I got pregnant before marriage.  That was the only threat she had to give me.

[Ptarmigan]

Link

A 6 year old cheerleader? Never had that in my days as a kid.

[AllosaursRus]

A 6 year old cheerleader? Never had that in my days as a kid.

It's the same thing as Jo Bennet! What kind of a parent is so into their childhood, they make their daughters a target for pedophiles?

[Evil_Conservative]

It's the same thing as Jo Bennet! What kind of a parent is so into their childhood, they make their daughters a target for pedophiles?

Don't even get me started about that Toddler & Tiara's (I think that's the correct name) show on TLC.  Those baby girls (yes, they are still babies to me) are wearing twenty pounds of makeup, wearing skimpy outfits.

[AllosaursRus]

Don't even get me started about that Toddler & Tiara's (I think that's the correct name) show on TLC.  Those baby girls (yes, they are still babies to me) are wearing twenty pounds of makeup, wearing skimpy outfits.

How old was Jo? 5? What kind of parent would expose their child to such things? And they wonder why?

Even if they weren't involved, and I certainly have my doubts, they bear the responsibility!

[Zeus]

We have a baby girl.  My husband already knows he will have his hands full.

I'm a tough love type of person.  If my daughter gets pregnant before marriage, I'll kill her.  Not literally, of course, but you get where I'm coming from I hope.

My mom used to tell me, at the age of 13, that she would kick me out of the house if I got pregnant before marriage.  That was the only threat she had to give me.

I can appreciate the sentiment behind such statements yet one should be willing to follow through with the threat if what they were protesting happens. Harkens back to people need to learn actions have consequences.

[Evil_Conservative]

I can appreciate the sentiment behind such statements yet one should be willing to follow through with the threat if what they were protesting happens. Harkens back to people need to learn actions have consequences.

Certainly.

Since I would never kill my own child, I'll use another threat which will definitely be followed through with if she were dumb enough to get knocked up before marriage.  It's kind of scary to see how teenage girls act at this very moment.  Our daughter won't be a teenager for 12 more years.  How much will change from now until then?  Nightmare. 

People think I'm crazy that I care so much about NOT having children before marriage.  I'm just an old-fashioned 20-something.

[Zeus]

Certainly.

Since I would never kill my own child, I'll use another threat which will definitely be followed through with if she were dumb enough to get knocked up before marriage.  It's kind of scary to see how teenage girls act at this very moment.  Our daughter won't be a teenager for 12 more years.  How much will change from now until then?  Nightmare. 

People think I'm crazy that I care so much about NOT having children before marriage.  I'm just an old-fashioned 20-something.

Been out of vogue for enough generations that old fashion is the new fashion.

[ConservativeJoeG]

Those toddler beauty pageants are really sad.  I honestly don't think it's fair to exploit your children in such a ridiculous manner.

[true_blood]

To tell ya the truth, if they don't, the damn kids calls 911 and report them! That's what progressive politicians and child physicology "experts" have done to our society!

You can no longer spank your kid for fear of goin' to jail!

That is so very true Rus! Another way the libs have ruined America.
That and their political correctness bullshit.

[DumbAss Tanker]

I can appreciate the sentiment behind such statements yet one should be willing to follow through with the threat if what they were protesting happens. Harkens back to people need to learn actions have consequences.

Talk is cheap, I don't think so very many real parents faced with that situation would actually do that.