TO THE EDITOR

I attended the program Lights, Camera, Caution at the Lincoln Center on last Tuesday night. It was a very informative program I must say. I learned much more than I ever dreamed I would. As a parent, I was appalled at the fact that my children are exposed to so much junk by way of the television, radio and internet. The exact words of Ms. Shultz, the speaker, were that our kids are "desensitized" to the things that they hear and see. How sad is it that our children are so accustomed to hearing fowl language, sexual references, abuse of alcohol, drug and tobacco that they think it is acceptable? I am proud to say that the "F" word at my house refers to an odiferous bodily function. Wake up parents, we live in a society that Hollywood is telling our kids what is acceptable and that there are no consequences to their actions. Have you paid attention to how these people dress? What about how they act or even what they say?

While sitting in the meeting, I took notes of the names of these people, shows and websites that my children are exposed to. I became very educated on how the packaging may look great, but what's on the inside is a pile of rubbish.

It is time for all parents to take a stand, quit being your child's friend, and become that nosey, strict, and mean parental unit you had growing up. I remember my mother was the meanest, strictest, asked too many questions, kept me on restriction;

would not let me have my way and the nosiest woman on the planet. Today, I thank God daily for my parents making the choice to be a mother and father to me and raised me to know that I will have to answer to someone about the choices I make in my life. Heck, I stilled called my mom to make sure I could publicly make these comments about her.

What has happened to the principles in which our generation were raised on, you know the "Golden Rule," "respect your elders," and "spare the rod spoil the child"? Our children are gifts to us, to treasure, take care of and guide up in a way that becomes respectable to you and I, a reflection of our parenting. I want to look at my children as adults and be proud of the man and woman they turn out to be, not have regrets. My parents gave me nothing but unconditional love, support and discipline; and I think I turned out okay. After all, you entrust me with the care of your children everyday and I thank you for that. I love each of the kids that have had me, "Nurse Poss" at LCES and I am proud for the most part of the young men and women they are turning into. In the words of Heather Shultz, we cannot prepare our future for our children, but we can prepare our children for their future. We need to work harder so that our children can live up to the best of their potential.

MELYNDA POSS PROUD PARENT