BIG SURGE in the DESTRUCTION of the AMERICAN FAMILY !

We begin this article with the question. What is a family ? Families have changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Family is no longer described as a Mother and Father living together with their children, as it was in the past. The playing field for families, as we used to know it, has changed here in America. Divorce, adoption, abortions, single moms and dads, remarriages, same sex relationships all these situations has caused numerous combinations of what is now called Family.

Single moms now account for 41 % of infant births here in America. I can foresee this trend of family combinations continuing because of the current economic conditions that exist here in the United States. With unemployment soaring and household income declining, will only add to more family breakups as stress grips more and more families. Home foreclosures and suicides are increasing, at an alarming rate, which only adds to the destruction of the family.

Instability and Insecurity in the family has a major effect on children who then lose trust and confidence in their parents. Laws have been passed favoring children and makes it easy for the child to lie and cast false accusations against their parents, while being protected by these laws. Such laws as these allow children to gain control over their parents thus making discipline by the parents nearly impossible.

More children are obsessed today with cell phones, computer games, TV, sex, sexting, texting, pornography. etc., which all goes to making it a nightmare to be a good parent in this day and age. A very large percentage of the children today have become selfish, disrespectful and unappreciative.

Now for the parents of these children, who by their deeds and actions, have contributed to the child's mistrust. Many to these parents have adopted very loose moral values and family values as well as, cheating, lying, being unfaithful in their marriage, arguing and fighting in front of the children and being disrespectful to each other. All of this by the parents has contributed to the child's losing confidence and trust in their parents.

The dissolution of the American family as a whole is devastating to our society and plays into the hands of communism, as predicted in the communist manifesto whose main thrust is to destroy the family and then everything else will come tumbling down. Well, we in America are well on our way to the eradication of the family as we have known it.

There are as many approaches to parenting as there are parents, but scientists who study parenting agree on a basic set of principles that should guide interactions with children and teens.

* WHAT YOU DO MATTERS. Think about how you treat and respond to your child and what effect it will have on them.

* YOU CAN NOT BE TO LOVING. It's not possibe to spoil a child with to much love, it is possible to spoil a child by giving things in place of love.

BE INVOLVED IN YOU CHILD'S LIFE. Effective parents rearrange their priorities so they have time to be involved in their children's lives.

ADAPT YOUR PARENTING TO FIT YOUR CHILD. Parenting approaches must change and adapt to the child's needs- for more independence, more knowledge, more competence- at different stages of growth.

ESTABLISH and SET RULES. Managing your child's behavior when their young helps them learn how to manage it on their own as they grow older.

FOSTER YOUR CHILD'S INDEPENDENCE. Youth need to learn self-control, self-direction and an ability to think and make decisions independently. Effective parenting helps them learn these important abilities.

BE CONSISTENT. Consistency is key to your authority with your child, and it gives them a sense of stability and safety.

AVOID HARSH DISCIPLINE. Children who are spanked, hit or slapped are more likely to be bullies, use aggression or fight with other children.

EXPLAIN YOUR RULES AND DECISIONS. Youth at any age need to understand why you've made certain rules and decisions.

TREAT YOUR CHILD WITH RESPECT. If you respect your child, they are more likely to respect you and other people.

From " The Ten Basic Principles of Good Parenting" by Laurence Stienberg, PhD (2004, Simon & Schuster, New York)

Dinner time should be one of the most important event of each day. Make dinner time a ritual, served at a set time each day. Each member of the family is made aware of how important it is to share dinner together.

Dinner begins when everybody is seated and with bowed heads, grace before meals is recited, thanking God for the food on the table and for all the blessings showered on the family. Conversation is encouraged by the parents by speaking with the children and by asking them questions about the events of the day.

RECREATIONAL activities that involves the entire family are strongly encouraged. As parents, organize fun events such as a day at the zoo, which is always meet with plenty of enthusiasm.

Plan a family picnic at some historical park or city park where the children can run and play games among themselves and perhaps meet some other children to join in their games.

A trip to the local bowling ally is also an excellent group fun event.

How about a movie and also a good time to rest and enjoy a movie that the whole family will enjoy.

OUTDOOR activities always a winner, such as bicycle riding together and perhaps camping.

Camping was a yearly event in my family. As the school year came to a close in June, plans would begin for our annual family camping trip to Assateaque Island National Seashore, located just outside of Ocean City, Maryland. Family campsites at Assateague are located on the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean.

Assateague island is well known for the Wild Ponies that roam free through out the island, including the campsites and beaches. They do have the right away.

Life guards are provided at the beaches designated for swimming by the National Park Service--U.S. Dept. of the Interior.

Other outdoor things to consider are, fishing, bird watching, nature hikes, to name only a few.

Some LEARNING activities include, a trip to your local library, working on jig saw puzzles, board games such as scrabble, monopoly, battleship and 20 questions, all are great learning and being together with family.

Parenting and managing a family is indeed a full time job and there are no short cuts. Parents must be totally committed to the well being of the entire family and anything less spells disaster.

Early on in a marriage, respect for each other is a must, no questions asked. As children arrive and the family begins and grows, each member including Mom and Dad must be aware what their rights are as a part of the family unit.

Each must also know that with these rights comes obligations and responsibilities to the family.

 http://hubpages.com/hub/BE-A-WEB-RANGER-NATIONAL-PARK-SERVICE-US-DEPT-of-the-INTERIOR

Children can now be a Junior Ranger even if you are not able to visit a National Park----U.S. Department of the Interior.

    http://hubpages.com/hub/CAMPING-at-ASSATEAGUE-ISLAND-NATIONAL-SEASHORE

Visitors to Assateague Island can appreciate the priceless ECOSYSTEM of the Island.

http://hubpages.com/hub/HARVEST-FEST-an-ANNUAL-FAMILY-CAMPING-OUTING-at-POSSUM-LODGE

Over 350 species of migratory birds stop at Assateague as well as other abundant species, to rest and feed