The Last Word

Not enough for kids to do? Give me a break! It is time to contribute!

by Barrie Quappe
Host/producer for "Cayman Crosstalk with Barrie Quappe" on Rooster 101.9FM

Friday, March 26, 2004

Okay, so the title lets you know where I stand. Now, here's the why. A little story may help to highlight this. 

Some years back when my now husband took me to meet his parents, it happened to be the fourth of July and the place was Long Island, New York. The town was decorated red, white and blue and the energy of a new summer and patriotism was palatable.

However, this was not the amazing aspect to me. That came during the parade when children from the middle school age group marched by playing instruments of all kinds, perfectly in time and in rhythm. 

I didn't realise I was crying until I was asked: "Why are you crying?" I could barely speak to answer as I was so emotional but I had never seen this kind of group success in that age group. I thought, if only we had this kind of training in Cayman.

Well, now we have steel pan bands, a youth orchestra, competitive swimmers, social groups and church groups with a 

variety of activities. How can anyone assert that our kids don't have enough to do? 

Sometimes when we have, we only want more. Years ago, we did more with less and we rarely heard that kids had nothing to do. Why? For my family it was because we made up games and even put on our own play in the George Town Town Hall.

Perhaps what today's children have less of is appreciation, creativity and parental company (due to financial and work demands). 

Our demands have changed and so has our direction. Grandparents didn't want their children to have to struggle as they did. Increased opportunities made increased salaries a reality. Christmas time became flooded with any gift a child could dream of but the rest of the year, Mom and Dad had to go to work and stay late so junior was left alone or with a domestic helper. 

One line of thinking is that the child left at home felt devalued, wandered out and got 

into trouble. Other issues with the youth are truancy, deception and, recently, lack of respect for human life.

We did not arrive here overnight. We arrived by a multitude of conscious decisions to ignore your neighbours' troubles, make as much money as you could and let the kids relax at home and buy them gifts (to fill the gap of not being there).

However, many individuals have risen above loneliness, starvation, tragedy and more. So, give me a break. No matter how old you are you make a choice every day in how you conduct yourself, parents or no parents. 

Life may dish out all kind of challenges (and no, it usually isn't fair). The choices you make contribute (or destroy) society. What is your goal?

Contact Barrie Quappe “Newstalk” radio show, Rooster 101.9FM. E-mail barriequappe@hurleysgroup.com  

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