By Dr. Christine Brown Richards
How many of us remember the Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff's song... "Parents Just Don't Understand?" Remember how as kids we sang along and memorized all of the words because, we felt like they wrote it for us! Listening to the lyrics... we realized that "Mom" valued education and learning and not the fashion show he was trying to put on. Even when he took the Porsche, knowing he was wrong, it was (in his mind at least), his parents' fault and they just didn't get it.
Now, let's take the premise and apply to our kids today... see a resemblance? Is there any real value in education by todays modern day students? How many of our kids come to school with the latest kicks, or the most fashionable gear, but can't read or write, let alone multiple numbers like 3 and 12! How many picks on the student who get A's and B's but are failing every core subject, not to mention to one that are meant to be fun like gym. Who fails gym?! As the kids would say, in the text language... smh (shake my head).
When will kids learn that taking care of them is not easy!!! When will they understand buying sneaker's they want for school is not as important as putting a roof over their heads and food on the table? At one point... do they realize that because Mom did not finish school... she can't get that job paying $20 an hour and is forced to take a job paying $8.50 an hour. Do our kids know that getting an education will help them get that high paying job they want? Getting their diploma and even furthering their education will definitely land that high paying job!
When will our kids learn that in order to have a place to live, food to eat and clothes to wear... means you have to have a job!!!
Without a high school diploma or even college... it's almost impossible to have or get that chance. "Please Kids... Understand!
I AM NOT YOUR FRIEND....
I AM YOUR PARENT....
I WILL STALK YOU....
LECTURE YOU....
DRIVE YOU INSANE....
BE YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE....
HUNT YOU DOWN WHEN NEEDED....
BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!