Yes Alabamagirl. Gangs are one of the worst things in our community.

Bro. James, my post was not at all aimed at anything you said. It was from the heart of experience in seeing and counseling with others.

it was not so when i was a child, we knew our place and kept to it. but now a day parents think that they can bribe or be likable to there kids and that it will cause them to obey them.

children are prone to try adults to see what their limitations are. you set it and at some point they will try and make you lower the standard in most cases. don't know many kids who will ask their parents to make the curfew hour sooner than later.

As you said bro. James you have to establish a line of communications with them. sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is very difficult for various reasons. but it needs be established right early in their lives or you will be shouting forever.

Down below this room a young lady mentioned that she was very happy not having children and not planning to have any. lots of people got on her. although I believe that the first commandment God gave to mankind was to procreate, I also believe that it is a good thing for a person to be honest and if they do not want to deal with kids not do it for the sake of doing it.

Any one who has raised kids know that it takes time and the patience of Job to rear kids.

My son is in prison tonight for selling crack cocaine. He has been in for almost two years and has one more. He told me not long ago that lying to me was the most difficult thing. I love my son and will be there for him when he is retired from prison. I will help him get on his feet as I do many other young men that I contact in my prison ministry which I was doing years before my son was incarcerated.

Keep on keeping on!!!!