CHILD ABUSE 101

Last night I looked at photos of children playing in a jumping jack at my granddaughters 1st birthday party. They were all smiling and laughing, having the times of their lives. In other words, they were doing what kids are supposed to do, enjoying being kids without adult interference.

In my youth this was common place, as we would go outside and play all day. We learned how to play baseball, football and basketball, and those that were good enough went on to play in high school and college.

We had fun as we played at our own pace and enjoyed every minute of it, no one telling us when and where to play. Younger kids learned the games from older and more experienced ones. Trial and error and the joy of learning to run, catch and throw at a leisurely pace. You didn't mind sitting on the side lines watching, as you knew your time would eventually come as you got older and better.

This joy was taken away by modern day parents, who wanted to take away this natural process that had been going on for ages. The old uniform of shirts and skins was soon replaced by modern major league looking uniforms. Vacant lot fields, with card board bases were replaced with major league looking, manicured fields. A tattered glove, a bat held together with nails and tape and a ball wound up with electrical tape were prized possesions. Now new equipment has to be purchased every year.

Now we have four and five year olds who can't run, throw, catch or field, being yelled at by adults, and the kids have no clue as to why they are yelling. Heaven forbid one of them swings the bat and the ball hits it, or as he stands their, with the glove up, and a miracle occurs as the ball lands in the glove, and stays there. This unlucky kid just kissed away his childhood, as the parents begin to search for special instructors and training camps, for this future major leaguer.

It's not only baseball, as kids spend their most enjoyable years in a car going from one practice or game to another, treated as robots and not kids.

Don't abuse your kids by taking away this precious time when they get to dream and pretend and to play all those silly games. To soon they will be teenagers and they can make these decisions on their own.

I know what your thinking, it's an old fool who is ranting and raving and showing his age and doesn't understand how things are today. Just do me one favor, look at the children's faces as they practice or play. You won't see them laughing or smiling and enjoying themselves. The only time you will see that is when the game is over and they are getting those treats for playing and amusing the adults.

Do yourself and your children a big favor. Go outside and meet your neighbors and talk to them, let the kids meet and play their games and enjoy the laughter that will soon fill the air as the kids run around and do things kids were always meant to do.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE

We turn on the three major news networks, which consist of CNN, FOX and MSNBC to get our fill of comedy; and we turn to Comedy Central to get a realistic look at the news. Shouldn't it be the other way around?

It just goes to show how far we have advanced in this country. And we wonder why we are the laughing stock of the world.