Parenting is a gift that God bestows on us. It is a great responsibility. However, in today's society the job is getting tougher and tougher. The world at large is becoming more violent and restless and it is difficult to bring up a child in such an environment. The children of today are exposed to so much and are easily influenced. For example:

Drugs:

In this day and age, drug use is one of the most common problems parents have to fight against. It is not only a problem that's affecting twenty yr olds; it's a problem that begins as young as eleven and twelve. Many youngsters of today are hooked on to drugs. The percentage of kids using drugs is overwhelming. Visit a rehabilitation home and you will know what I mean.

Drinking:

If you have teenagers at home, you know what I am talking about. Alcohol fascinates all our youngsters. It is not one or two drinks that they have; they consume bottles and bottles of alcohol. To most youngsters nowadays alcohol is the symbol of fun. They need either alcohol or drugs to ensure that they have a good time.

Our kids have lost the ability to fight feelings of depression or tension, they hit the bottle.

Sex:

With all the programs on television and the porn sites on the internet, sex is a growing issue among our teen kids. They are all eager and excited to learn more about sex. No longer do they believe in preserving their virginity till marriage. Sex is now for the married as well as the unmarried. There is no age limit, you can be as young as 12 and still have sex. If you are one who watches the news or reads the newspapers regularly, you will find that AIDS is on a fast increase. More and more youngsters are being plagued by this disease.

To bring up children in a world that says drugs, drinking and sex at any age is okay is nothing but a challenge. A challenge that drains you of every ounce of energy!