LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Asking parents to step up

To the editor:

ITʼS BEENSAID so many times that itʼs part of the adult lexicon. I want my kids to have more than I did when I was their age. Our kids have more things. When was the last time you saw a kid w ithout a Samsung or Apple iPhone practically attached to them? Children spend hours either playing video games or streaming highlights of their favorite entertainers. Access to information has made the nightly homework assignments easier to complete. Long forgotten are the days where you had to write multiple drafts of a paper before the right version clicked and was ready for submission.

I recognize this sentiment appears out of touch and not current with todayʼs society. Effort and appreciation always transition with the times, they are not temporary or unfashionable.

Description without potential solutions is venting without purpose. We know the challenges, whatʼs the remedy? Parents need to regain their footing as the decision makers. There is a reason that teenagers are not responsible for covering your monthly mortgage payment. Roles and responsibilities need to be reestablished. Parents raise their kids. The children donʼt dictate terms or conditions best suited for them. Parents set boundaries and course of action. When this is done with direction it has positive and lasting benefits. Itʼs time for parents to stop being apprehensive and become the role models that contribute to the foundation of growth and opportunity.

Itʼs obvious to those paying attention that kids today are behaving in a harmful deleterious manner

It is important to understand the reason, so the solutions are pointed and address what is transpiring. Happy children are upbeat and content. They donʼt act in adversarial belligerent fashion. Those doing intentional harm to the undeserving are desperate and malicious. They donʼt care about the consequences.

K of C of Park Ridge gives thanks

To the editor:

THE KNIGHTS of Columbus, Council #4486 at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Park Ridge thanks our generous community for donating to our annual Intell ectual Disabilities Drive. We would also like to thank Dunkinʼ and Goldbergʼs Bagels for allow-

Too many days pass where a headline reads subway tragedy caused by groups of kids. Productive people donʼt wake up and arbitrarily decide to inflict harm on innocent people. Kids engage in destructive behavior because they ing us to set up and collect on the weekend (photo below). All proceeds of this drive will be distributed to organizations who help people of all ages with intellectual disabilities. You can still donate online by scanning a QR code.

The Knights of Columbus is a worldwide Catholic organization based on the principles of Charity, Unity and Fraternity. For more information on the Park Ridge Council, including online membership, visit knights4486.org

Tom Kistler

Grand Knight, Council #4486 are bored, depressed and know there is no punishment for the callous disregard of law. These points need to be explored.

Structure and routine are critical to success. That is even more important for children as their commitment and attention spans are fleeting without goals. Boredom is the byproduct of not having enough quality things to occupy time and concentration. When children are bored, they seek immediate and instant gratification. They have little to no real purpose. Kids that need things to do often go to the easiest least demanding activity. With nothing directing them to values and growth, kids without fully developed reasoning skills often gravitate to other kids in similar situations.

The too predictable result is causing havoc on the innocent. Pushing someone onto a subway platform is commonplace for these misguided kids. They think itʼs something to do and it will not have any residual punishment. They donʼt consider the devastation left behind. This is applicable to the ones directly impacted and the people that are fearful when considering future public travel choices. Todayʼs kids are tomorrowʼs decision makers. Itʼs never been more important to understand what it takes for success and impact.

Adam Schweitzer Hillsdale