A few days ago I was waiting to cross the street at a crosswalk. The ‘do not cross light’ was lit so I waited where I was. I noticed a young woman and a child across the street. The adult took the hand of the child, looked both ways and stepped into street. The two crossed unharmed but I wondered what that adult was teaching that child. “It doesn’t matter what the rules are, do what you want.” ?????

Perhaps I’m getting persnickety in my old-age but I take great delight in following the Little Rules. If the crosswalk says ‘do not cross’, I don’t cross. It doesn’t cost me anything and I think it shows others that the rules are there for a reason, let’s abide by them

Children learn by example. I’ve heard people say; “Do what I say, don’t do what I do”. Children are like little sponges, they soak up what they see and they mimic it. Statistics show that children growing up in homes of domestic violence tend to perpetuate that violence. What they see, becomes the norm.

When I was younger my mother and I were doing some Saturday shopping. We had quite a few parcels and we were storing them in the car when my mother realized that she had a pair of pantyhose in her hand that she hadn’t paid for. We were just about to get in the car when she said she would be right back. We were quite a distance from the shop but my mother walked that $2 pair pantyhose back into the store and paid for them. Now that’s a good lesson.

I have friends that brag about how they get away with things. Cheating on their income tax is a game to them and they’re proud of themselves. I willingly pay my taxes. The money I give the government pays for a lot of stuff I take for granted. They don’t always do such a great job on things but there are a lot of benefits in my life that I wouldn’t have without my government. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Now allow me to rant a little about television. I watch television. There, I admitted it in public. My primary source of entertainment is the idiot box. I enjoy cooking shows and documentaries on animals. I enjoy movies, comedy, drama and even action films. I enjoy some primetime network series. But I do wonder about what our children are getting from television. When I was a child my parents watched television with me and explained things to me. I understood that it was fake. It was for entertainment purposes and I shouldn’t think it was real. They also wanted me to understand that when someone got hit in real life it hurt. No, my parents never beat me. I got a spanking when I deserved it. I have no qualms about that.

I worry when I see people in authority condoning violence or hatred. Our kids see that and they believe it. I do not have any children. But I believe I am as much responsible for the children around me as if I were a parent. We live in a global village and we are responsible for each other. But today it doesn’t always feel like it.