Who Will Save The Children?

Our world is changing, and it doesn’t look good for our children. Because of the high cost of living worldwide, one or two jobs can’t pay all the monthly bills or feed many families. Some parents have three jobs and no time to raise their children.

So, children must become their own parents, making adult decisions at a young age without knowledge, wisdom, or understanding of life.

Single mothers are having it worse. That means many children are living impatient lives and must raise themselves. Those who can afford AI will have a babysitter, which can be more dangerous than humans.

Imagine a tech world where children must make adult decisions while unknown predators are lurking in secret places. Social media is a deadly place for unsupervised and ignorant children.

Either way, it’s an unsafe world for our children, with parents spending more time on the job than being there for them.

Food, clothing, and shelter aren’t enough for a child to be happy, safe, successful, and live a good life. Children need more than that. Unfortunately, this is all many parents can give. It’s a worldwide problem in our technological world. A world with smarter, wealthier humans.

A few mornings ago, I found myself downtown Kingston before 6:00 a.m. and was shocked to see so many sellers on the street. Nine out of ten of them were females.

Yes, I counted them because, looking at them, I wondered what happened to their children. Who makes them breakfast and ensures they get to school on time? Who is there to ensure they get home safely? How was their day? What did you learn today? Help them with their homework to ensure it’s done correctly. Who are their friends? Did you enjoy school today? Talk to them about life, their dreams, friends, how they feel about everything they see, hear, know, etc.

Many parents can now only supply their children’s basic needs. Children are living impatient lives and growing up too fast.

I volunteered as a Teacher’s Aide for five years and met children who had to make adult decisions at eleven and twelve years old. Children who never got to be a child. Children who don’t know what it means to be a child.

Yes, most females here are mothers. Some are mothers and fathers to their children. Many children must help their mothers sell after school and on weekends, including Sundays.

Sunday was a Church day here, and no businesses would open. Not anymore. Sundays are just another money-making day.

Years ago, grandmothers were in their sixties and retired. So many could take care of their grandchildren while their parents worked. Not anymore. Grandmothers can’t retire here. Since they are younger, they must be out there fighting life like the rest of us. That means no adults are around when children make mistakes to correct them.

Parents who can afford it come home at night with food bought at KFC, McDonald’s, or other fast-food restaurants, contributing to unhealthy eating habits that lack nutritional value. Some children learn to cook early so that dinner might be home for Mom. Cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, decision-making, taking care of younger siblings, and self-defense are some lessons children learn too early here. More responsibility is imposed on the female from a young age. If she is the firstborn, she will endure the curse of the firstborn.

This contributes to teenage pregnancy as children are raising younger siblings while Mom and dad work.

This is a worldwide crisis contributing to disciplinary issues in schools. Schools feel the pinch as many children misbehave, making the teacher’s job difficult. Teachers are running out of classrooms here in Jamaica because of unruly children, low wages, and extra-large classroom sizes.

Children are slipping through the cracks at an alarming rate. I raised myself. I set my own rules and standards and don’t break them. I know adults who raised themselves. Not many of them make good parents for themselves and their children, as they can’t teach their children what they don’t know and weren’t taught. For the males, women pay for everything horrible their mothers did to them. I know many females who endured hell at the hands of their husbands and boyfriends because of Mama’s issues. The same goes for the females.

Children will pay for each parent’s mistakes. I paid for my father’s. Few fathers are around in most homes here, so parents can’t teach their children what they don’t know. Children paying for their parents’ mistakes allows a cycle of pain and trauma to continue for generations until someone breaks the cycle.

Our lives started as children. Everything we learn will make or break us. It will contribute to our success or failure. Everything begins with our parents.

If your heart could speak, what would it say?

Please, parents, give your children a good start. It’s not too late.

Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoyed it.