Just when I thought our culture couldn't possibly coddle our young people even more to everyone's detriment, an article in the Northside section of the Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper proved me wrong. The December 3rd article authored by Jean McAulay is titled, "Organized Kids." The cute tag line intended for stressed parents is what really hooks you: "If scattered schoolwork threatens to sap your sanity, call in the pros."

It seems both children and teenagers are struggling over having to deal with the task of organizing their own schoolwork and work area. Who is to blame? Parents? Of course? Children and teenagers themselves who choose to focus their attention on electronic devices and being lazy? Of course not times two. We are all supposed to turn a blind eye to a stone cold fact. That is, perhaps single parents who want to go it alone, or parents who worship their double income more than anything else, are finding out that parenting actually involves them doing the - parenting.

Here is something that will never change. Children and teenagers need boundaries. They must be accountable for their actions and inactions. Parents must start doing "the parenting" themselves. Stop overscheduling them. Stop hiring experts outside the family to clean up the mess. This is unbelievable.

The very idea of paying a total stranger over a thousand dollars to assess your own child's disorganization, and then simply organize their schoolwork and work area, is beyond asinine. Nevertheless, there are actually parents out there who must have money to burn. While I am sure Jim Langendorfer is an excellent and loving father, I take issue with his support of total strangers coming into a home and treating grown children and teenagers like helpless infants. Langendorfer told the Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper that his 15-year-old son Bobby "is better prepared for class and studying, and I don't have the stress of having to look at that mess." You've got to be kidding me.

Granted, it is far safer for a child or teenager who won't listen to their parents to have an organizational consultant looking through their backpack and setting up their work station at home, than it is to be forced into compliance via Zoloft or Ritalin. Nevertheless, what gives? I mean, if parents and their own flesh and blood cannot come together and get organized enough to function properly, there are more issues at play that require attention.

We need to stop treating our children and teenagers like our buddies. They're not a project that can always have an alleged expert attached to it. Either you want to be a parent, or you don't. Either some things are not open to question, or anything goes. Either you, as an adult, are a parent in your own home, or one day you might hire a total stranger to wake everyone up in the morning on time. We have become a nation of not only helpless infants, but of an unhealthy mindset that seems to state that if I don't want to assert my authority, I'll pay someone else to do it.

Certainly, today's children and teenagers are being micromanaged. Their prime youth is scheduled away. This must stop. Now. It's not working. I believe wealthy parents are not automatically successful parents just because they can throw thousands of dollars at every perceived problem. I also believe a single parent by choice is not to be admired for deciding to go it alone, while they blame everything else and everyone else for their own child's performance in school. My heart aches for all the stepparents out there who tried to get involved in their stepchild's education, but were told by everyone: "Ah, no thanks." Both wealthy parents and single parents should realize that coddling their children does them no good.

You know, here'a thought. Fire all the experts. Throw out all their politically correct reports. While you're at it, throw out all the Ritalin and Zoloft. Get closely involved with your child's education. Tell them that this is what you are all about now. If they don't like it, tell them again that you are now involved in their education both at school, and at home.

Doesn't this make a heck of a lot more sense than calling in the pros? Doesn't this make more sense than shipping your own flesh and blood off to a psychiatrist? Or off to lesson after lesson after lesson?

Again, fire all the experts. Everyone will be fine.


Tony Zizza is a freelance writer who lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He writes frequently about educational issues.