Is it just me or do you have the feeling lately that this country is going to hell in a hand basket? I can’t pick up a newspaper, or turn on the television, or read a political blog (left or right), where someone isn’t reporting on the latest scandal involving influence pedaling, corruption, the environment, or the President and his increasingly desperate attempt to stay relevant as his own administration crashes down around him.

When I was growing up, we had the Watergate crisis, the end of the Viet Nam war, and the hostage crisis of the late 70’s, etc. I’m sure my parents felt the same feelings I’m feeling now of overwhelming negativity in this world around us. But, for some reason, it seems that lately, all of these events are just multiplying onto themselves and we are living in an increasingly hostile and negative world. We are quickly moving in the direction of “gotcha” politics, tabloid journalism, negative advertising and “find the worst in your neighbor” not the best.

In this era of 24 hour news, political warfare, and the quest for company profits over employee loyalty, it just feels like society is coming off the rails. Where is my happy place? Where is my happy place? I really don’t want to disconnect from the world around me. I don’t, but I need to find a balance that works for me. I need to find a way to raise my children in a world that is not the place I feel I’m living in right now. I need to find the escape hatch away from all of this so I can let my kids have the happy childhood I had.

I would love live in a world where we accentuate the positives in people and dwell on the “good” instead of always looking for the worst in our fellow man. I know as humans, we are so good at letting people down, but maybe, just maybe, we can start finding the best in a bad situation, or better yet, the best in a good situation, instead of living our lives through tabloid journalism and the “me first” mentality.

I for one, want my kids growing up in a world where they have every opportunity to thrive, excel and achieve great things. I want them to retain their innocence as long as possible. No pressure to have sex before it’s right, none of the peer pressure to do drugs or take unnecessary risks that may endanger their loves. I just want them to grow up and be kids and enjoy childhood.

I don’t expect to raise my kids in a Utopian world of only good things, but I do expect, no I demand!, people give children the right to be children. And any 24 hour news outlets, company’s, or individuals who gets in the way of my children being kids do not deserve my respect or deserve any of my business. We should not be in such a hurry to rush our children into adulthood. Our kids will get there soon enough. And when they do, please, please let them find a world where our political and business leaders work to achieve the best for mankind.

As a parent, I know I have the greatest influence over my children. I will regulate what they watch on television. I will teach them right from wrong. In short, I will do my job and be their parent. I will not push that job onto someone else. I will not expect you to do the job that I accepted when I became a father. But there will be times when I can’t be there to tell them what they should do, read, hear and see. It’s those times I expect you to be nice to my kids and care about them as if they were your own. It’s those times that should remember to let them be kids. So, if you are there when I’m not Mr. President, Mr Advertiser, and Mr. Stranger, just remember, you were kids once too. You where once innocent and curious and vulnerable. So when you come across my kids, let my kids stay that way as long as possible. Okay?

Thank you.

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