Kids, Drugs, Parents and Death.

We need some changes and we need them soon. What i have no idea.
But something for these kids to help turn them away from what is becoming an alarming problem. Drugs. Snorting, injectables, etc etc.
And we need some who don't care to be called narc, punk, or a few under cover folks, whatever it takes to get drugs out of our schools. And away from the kids.
And to catch those selling to our kids.
Tougher sentences for those who sell. And if it causes a death. A penalty that is stiff enough to meet the crime.
A preacher i once knew had a saying. I can get them into church with a hot dog. And on the outside Satan is offering them hamburgers.
Yeah i know think about it.
But it drives a few things home in some ways.
We need a serious look at our local problems. Not just a quick fix of arrest a 100 and their back out and selling again and then forget it.
But a lasting one answer to a alot of questions for our kids.
One would be parents who will be parents and not worry about the attitude. I didnt' like what all my parents wanted me to do. But hey. They were the parents and i had to live. It worked out. I am still alive and i learned, hey mom and dad. They weren't to stupid for being parents first instead of friends first and then parents.
I was just a little to young for the attitude i had at the time. Hmm.
But one thing. When they spoke i knew they meant business. And my feelings mattered. But also i knew who's house i lived in. And my backside was their's. They help get me and they were gonna keep me regardless of my stupidity.
We use to be a proud people here in this area. Where has the pride gone to?

Those selling to our kids are our kids. The real thing about drugs and people who use them is they choose to use them, they choose not to hunt, fish, play sports, read books, play instruments, bake cakes, build bridges, or whatever people want to suggest. It isnt out of bordom, its out of the want to feel the effect. It often does not hit home until something tragic happens.

Sadly with many kids its a second generation thing, parents abuse, so the kids do as well. And let me tell every parent right now, if you think your kid couldnt be involved, wouldnt dare be involed, I assure you, they very well could be.

You drove a lot of what i was saying home. It's a shame to say but it's true.
We have to change. If not what does our future hold?

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Ok lets think about that for a second. One of the biggest reason I know that most people in this area don't go up hunting in Bath county or such anymore was because of the liquored up hunters. Lets consider out Cherokee area and such about drunk fishers and boaters.


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The first I have heard of anyone not going to Bath County or anywhere else to hunt because of the drunks. You did get it part right on the Cherokee or any other body of water for that matter, it is not the fisherman but the "boaters" that are the problem and by the way fisherman hate them as well.
But as I said before hunting and fishing are tools to be used as parents to get time with their kids to teach them how to be responsible and not get into drinking and drugs. Wanting to leave them to learn these things with their peers and with the opposite sex by giving them somewhere to hang out is wherein the problem lies that the parents need to spend more time with their kids and what better way to do that than to take them hunting or fishing or golfing, to a ballgame, to the park and shoot hoops, etc.

Shocked that is the first you heard. One of the biggest reasons I heard that a lot pushed to open hunting in the area counties. That and you pay attention when there is a hunting accident, most of the time, there is alcohol involved. And as far as the boaters, maybe I'm crazy but quite a few of the people I see on boats fish. Yes there are some crazies just going up and around the lakes or whatever you are using but a good portion fish as well.

I see your point on parents spending time with kids, and thats great, but that isn't going to happen all their life. Kids are going to be kids, kids are going to grow, parents, no matter how great, become uncool, kids need socializing with other kids, and sorry puberty hits them all.

Some of these 'great kids' have had the parental influence, otherwise they wouldn't be great kids who play ball or did anything else, but taking a kid hunting isn't going to keep them from possibly going into anything else anymore than having a kid play football is.

I mean lets be real here, there are kids who have almost no role model who never do anything. There are kids who appear to have great role models who get into everything.

It's never going to stop no matter what. There is always going to be the 'cool factor', as in the past it was smoking, then drinking, now drugs. You just have to know and sadly accept that a percentage of the population is going to engage in unhealthy activities and well, a percentage is going to die. The best thing to do is try and find ways to keep the percentage low, give alternatives, and realize that you can't get reach 10% who are going to do it no matter, but try to reach the 60% who are 'subjective'. That is giving them options where they have activities/things to do and yes, you have to give them opportunities where they can have fun, but decent fun.

I fully agree that parents need to spend more time with their kids. Unfortunately, alot of modern parents have been duped with the concept of "quality" time. It isn't so much about quality as quantity. The quality time concept does some to appease the parents and coddle them into thinking they are doing a good job. Our kids, on the other hand, need quantity time; in fact, they desperately need it. Whether we spend time with them hunting, fishing, or whatever, they yearn for that time. As parents we also have a clear biblical mandate to train our children. Train implies that alot of time and effort are required. Any activity that we share with a kid may open the door to discuss some weightier issue, such as drugs, premarital sex, etc. Quantity time allows us as parents the opportunities to be there when that door opens.

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I fully agree that parents need to spend more time with their kids. Unfortunately, alot of modern parents have been duped with the concept of "quality" time. It isn't so much about quality as quantity. The quality time concept does some to appease the parents and coddle them into thinking they are doing a good job. Our kids, on the other hand, need quantity time; in fact, they desperately need it. Whether we spend time with them hunting, fishing, or whatever, they yearn for that time. As parents we also have a clear biblical mandate to train our children. Train implies that alot of time and effort are required. Any activity that we share with a kid may open the door to discuss some weightier issue, such as drugs, premarital sex, etc. Quantity time allows us as parents the opportunities to be there when that door opens.

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Exactly the point I was trying to make, that parents are the most influential force on a child no matter what age. I understand the hitting puberty and the uncool part but even at this age they still value and respect the advice and iteraction of their parents and will remember the warnings that parents give more than anyone else.

This is the first I heard of the drunks in Bath County also. I always thought it was were hunting was poor in Bath County for a few years, because everybody and there brother was there killing anything that moved. Same happened at Wythville at one time.

As for fishing I do see a good portion of drunks, but there are more that are out there having fun. Most people see one or two drinking and tell everybody that there were nothing but drunks on the water today. Kind of like the whole I tell you this and you tell someone and we will see how it grows.

As for hunting accidents most are because people fall from treestands and don't know were they are going, not because of alcohol.

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fully agree that parents need to spend more time with their kids. Unfortunately, alot of modern parents have been duped with the concept of "quality" time. It isn't so much about quality as quantity.

[/ QUOTE ] I tried to be far enough away to let the kids be themselves, but close enough to keep an eye on several items, quantity time wise, I mean. Maybe that will work.

Quantity means alot. A word most don't actually know the meaning of.

You can't be there 24/7 but the reality is. Most kids and parents today seldom talk. Outside of when there is a problem most parents refuse to think. Their child could do anything.

We got real problems with drugs and our kids. Not just the kids but some of the parents and just the adults.

Maybe when there is enough OD's and suicides some will begin to look at it.

Until then. Right now the avg. OD call is 3 per week. I guess until they start being DOA or other type calls they won't get the attention they need.

Answers i don't have them all. But a good parent child relationship, with parents being parents first and friends second may help.

I raised a few kids one was my own. Wasn't always perfect but we always talked. And it was an open talk. From Drugs to sex. Sometimes my view was not easily taken. But years later it was more understood.