Kids of these days are just unbearable. They are uncontrollably wild, overly pampered, reckless to a point that they become abominable. I can’t help but declare my unexpected fury even if I consider that I was once a kid, too, but at least I was venerating discipline even if at times I had my share of recklessness.

In my household, I share with five carefree, playful earthlings that sometimes bring happiness to our banished dwelling, only because most of my family has already migrated to the United States. How much happiness can they bring? It is like they have built a house of noise and endemic playground that they can conquer and claim territorial dominance. Yes, every day I have to witness the constant running, crying, yelling, fist fighting day and night. We can never have a quite meal once they occupy the seats because for sure it will be a riot. Everything is in shambles, it’s like a typhoon hit our dining table. Not only that, since our floor tiles are awfully white, the dirt they bring as they run all over the place all make a nice potpourri of marks on the floor. Dirt here, mess there, headache everywhere. The only time I have time to compose myself is when they retire at night but it is still a long wait since they sleep very late. Even then, the bed becomes an extended playground when the whole day is not enough. Believe me, if we have to have longer days like Russia, these little people would stay awake for all eternity.

Another disturbing behavior is their obsession with television. It is their outlet to the real world, yes it may seem but it also instigates irresponsible education when certain programs that are children-oriented are aired at 7:00 PM when it is time for dinner or doing assignments. Because the nature of these programs is enticing for them, they forget everything around them including dinner. So a helpless maid or parent will serve dinner while the kids are watching their favorite show and the mess of rice and fish bones and veggies and meat all make a wonderful clutter on the floor. Don’t forget, it doesn’t include the yelling and cheers for the actors and the running and the laughing plus the noise in the kitchen where adults indulge in their own chaos. Huh, such a difficult existence I must bear! Sometimes I want to steal their happiness. Sometimes I wish they’re elastic so they can grow instantly. Sometimes I pray to kill them mentally so I can be liberated.

Yes, it is an alarming situation that needs to be examined. I am mainly concerned about the future that will face them if they continue to misbehave. What is instilled in someone who is in school and does not even bother to study his lessons because TV shows are not to be missed? Or that they have to spend so much time playing before, during, and after school because that’s how it has always been. Or yet, parents are not mindful enough that all they do is tolerate them unless someone is physically hurt. Even then, they blame the suffering on the kids with the words, "it’s your fault, so bear with it", hayukat in Waray dialect.

I want to admonish the law about crimes being committed by minors. Because of this, certain acts are pardoned and absolved. Such statute further infringes an already decadent society because criminals including kids are excluded in the blaming process. It is a macrocosm of a simple incidence that occurs in every household. Children rule the household, they own it, and we are only their guests that they can easily ignore and hate anytime they want. Child abuse is so biased towards children. They, too, perpetuate abuse to their family. When such case is presented, society should listen to both sides attentively and not blame the adult party entirely.

When I was a kid myself there was a sense of knowing and responsibility for the actions I did because my parents were disciplinarians. I was brought up with spanking and kneeling with books on both hands spread out to articulate a sense of repentance. These rituals instigated some insights that the growing child needed to understand punishment and reward. My father strictly imposed these rules of conduct which I adhered without question. A little fear felt good. It was like being summoned to appear in my parents’ bedroom to explain my misdemeanor. Naturally as a kid, I lied but it was theatrically obnoxious and not well-structured so my lying just worsened the punishment. I cried a lot thinking my punishment would be diminished but my father was nonchalant sometimes so I just had to deal with the ordeal.

Looking back, I now realize how lucky I was to have been brought up by strict parents because my freedom as a kid was coupled with responsibility. This is what’s wrong with today’s children. Their concept of freedom is boundless, limitless. Everything is geared towards irresponsible freedom that tends to inflict mental dementia.

Because of these problems, today’s children should not be left boisterous and wild for as long as they like. They have to be reprimanded for their actions because they don’t learn from them. I mean, they do but it is very hard for them to submit to demands of adults. It is just too difficult for them. Such difficulty is a form of seduction they willfully enjoy. It is a triumph for them to outwit or manipulate certain occasions especially when mom is there to defend them for their actions. When they are being told not to do so, they just look at you with their innocent smile but they continue doing what it is they are being reprimanded of. It doesn’t happen once or twice, it is repetitive until you just tire from scolding because you are about to have a stroke.

Indeed, it strikes me how they create a world of play that doesn’t seem to end. I am just tired of understanding all these theoretical explanations about this behavior. Yes, it develops in them a sense of learning, leadership, sensitivity, relationship-building. I can list all possible scenarios but there are other venues where these can be realized, aside from a playful existence.

Can we destroy the concept of play in a child? There has to be a way to divert mental energies when they don’t satisfy adults anymore. We must stop pampering these children if we want to rectify their disturbing behavior. Gone are adults tolerating everything because they think they are children and therefore innocent about things in life. The world is not built for children to play all the time. They need to be denied from this stimulus.

It is not true that they don’t have knowledge about their actions. When they are among themselves, there is teasing, chattering just about anything they can think of. It is a mental process that can only be expressed by someone who has consciousness. The fact that children laugh, cry, shout, despise their friends sometimes is proof that they are aware. Child psychology is always biased towards the kids. Adults deserve a fair share, too. It is not for children to disrupt sociological process. They can be taught mature thinking, too at such an early age. I don’t believe their mental capacity is not enough to divulge on such demands simply because they coexist with their older brothers and sisters and parents and other relatives and friends. Their constant interactions signal a shift in behavior when they are around various people.

Take a look at how children behave in front of strangers. When a stranger visits a household, kids are oftentimes polite and disciplined. They only respond when talked to until they gain their confidence and power once again after sometime when the stranger becomes acquainted with them and they resume their natural state of delirium. A good indication here would be a kid approaching the stranger with a simple smile. That moment when the child learns to be quiet and polite indicates a sense of mature behavior. When it is prolonged overtime, surely good manners will be well-received signifying a responsive growing.

Also, parents are not supposed to have primitive thinking about their children’s actions. It is tolerance that allows kids to develop irresponsibility, undisciplined behavior because parents are negligent. They also contribute to their children’s stunted emotional and social growth.

Which brings me to discuss about values once again. When children are deprived of certain demands because they are either detrimental or lack the capacity of acceptance, parents need to explain laboriously these things so they are not repeated. And when they are, a ritual of crime and punishment can rectify the situation. Yes, punishment needs to be strengthened. I don’t promote extensive beatings but the number of times they have to receive orders, let’s say being grounded, a sense of isolation or not bringing them to the park can be strictly followed so that they realize the repercussions. Simple explanation about any wrongdoing requires dialogue. In here, a healthy, sound relationship is magnified.

Children will not be children forever so chances of growth and development are high. But another burgeoning situation here is the fact that a typical Filipino family has about 4 or more kids. It is an arduous task for parents especially when there is a good number of younger ones. The whole scenario can be a hell of an adventure. It is up to them to discipline their offspring. It is up to them to bring a sense of bonding with their children while they are being taught the values in life, to become children of God.