I want da money

"Money and the cars, cars and the clothes....the hoes...I suppose, I just wanna be, I just wanna be successful."

Today I was driving my son to school and heard a discussion on Russ Parr morning show (by the way...I NEVER listen to the radio because all the songs they play came out months/years ago and by the time they make it to the radio it's old to me) and there was a discussion occurring about songs/videos and how they affect children in a negative way.

And quite frankly, I think that's a crock of bullshit.

Let me rephrase...I think that ALL the blame should not be put on music.

Chil.dren are impressionable

Yes.

Children can be affected by imagery they see/hear.

Yes.

HOWEVER....

Children growing up to be "what is portrayed in these songs" (as they put it) can be prevented.

How?

BY BEING A GAT DAYUM PARENT TO YO GAT DAYUM CHILD!

I can appreciate that most children grow up in a working parent(s) home...that's just the reality of the situation. It's not the 1950's where the mom stays home and is there for the child 24 hours a day. I mean hell, I'm a working single parent. But I make every effort to be as involved in my child's life as possible. I try to be as open and frank with him as humanly possible (age appropriate of course). And it's hard, it's hard getting up 2 hours early to get him ready, feed him, take him to school, etc before I'm even able to get in the shower. Then I get ready, go to work for 9 hours, come home, feed him, talk about his day, do homework, etc, and get him in the bed. And THEN after all of that I get to have a few moments to myself...after all of that I lay down only to do it again. I mean just having a full time job PERIOD is hard work. Having a kid is like having a second full time job...you have this person who depends on no one but you. You are responsible for their very existence.

Anywho, back on subject...

The point of that tangent was this: maybe if parents were more involved in their children's lives....music wouldn't affect them to the extent that it does for some. Nature vs. Nurture folks.

And then the parents who called in and said, "My kids don't watch that stuff! I don't allow it!"

Bitch. Boo. Bye as B. Scott says.

Your kids have friends?

Do they go to other family members houses?

Then please believe they've heard a song or seen a video that you would not approve of.

We cannot shelter our kids from the truth that is the world. It is what the fuck it is. I try to keep it real with my son, we talk about his body parts and female body parts. He knows a vagina is the male equivalent of a penis. He also knows that these are private and should not be discussed openly. He knows if he has a question about ANYTHING, he can come to me and we will discuss it without any type of judgment. That's (in my mind) how a parent should be...a child's FIRST resource. Not their friends. Parents need to establish this relationship early on in order for it to continue. It's not possible for a parent to seek to build this bond at 10 right when a child is getting into that sexually inquisitive age...by then it's too late. They're looking to videos, songs, friends, etc for guidance by now.

People often complain about how men/women act in today's society.

But they fail to realize WE hold the key to changing this! Raise our boys to respect women, to seek education instead of a quick dollar. Teach our girls to respect themselves and to not fall for anything. (Wow...sounding kinda preachy there)

But the point is, it starts with us. Plan and simple.

*Steps down off soapbox*