These Days

It’s a mixed up, muddled up, shook-up world. Or am I getting old?

These Days

Who would be a kid these days? There’s too much going on.
‘What do you want be, sweetheart, a daughter or a son?
I know you’re just a few days old, but it’s  up to you to choose.
That way, whatever you decide, you simply cannot lose.

‘Do you want a mummy and a daddy? Two mums, two dads? Tell us do.
We’ll guide your life as best we can but again, it’s up to you.
Do you want a laptop for screen time interactions?
One-on one, just you alone. So good for your reactions.

And you see you’ll never need us to read you a story book.
We don’t have time and anyway, there’s pictures on the screen – just look.
Do you really want to play outside? It will only make us worry.
Riding a bike and climbing trees might make you very sorry.

About food. Do you want chicken nuggets and ice-cream to eat?
Or would you like to be lactose-free and steer clear of any meat?’
And when you’re growing up and muddled in your head,
No real friends to talk to and the only safe place is bed…..

But even then you lay awake, wishing you’d never been born,
And your ‘friends’ on social media have left you broken and torn….
Do you wish your parents had found more time for you
And handed down good values to hold on tightly to?

These days young children have to choose beyond their years.
Childhood is no longer simple and it leads to tantrums and tears.
Their heads spin with confusion if you say ‘It’s up to you’.
They need loving family boundaries, so please don’t ask – JUST DO.