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Show The Emery County Review, Tuesday, July 8, 2008 The FAMILY PAGE Horoscope Focus On The Family Crossword B3 Figuratively Speaking FOCUS ON THE FAMILY Parents Must Confront Outside Forces Influencing Kids Dr. James Dobson Q Everyone talks about how rebellious teens are today. I don’t believe my parents went through this kind of anxiety when my sisters and I were young. We were all relatively happy and none of us rebelled. Am I right in assuming that good family life was easier to achieve in those days? I’m sure your memory is generally correct despite the exceptions we can all recall. The majority of parents in earlier years spent less energy worrying about their children. They had other things on their minds. I remember talking to my dad about this subject a few years before his death. Our children were young at the time and I, like you, was feeling the heavy responsibility of raising them properly. I turned to my father and asked, “Do you remember worrying about me when I was a kid? Did you think about all the things that could go wrong as I came through the adolescent years? How did you feel about these pressures associated with being a father?” Dad was rather embarrassed by my question. He smiled sheepishly and said, A “Honestly, Bo,” (his pet name for me) “I never really gave that a thought.” How do we explain his lack of concern? Was it because he didn’t love me or because he was an uninvolved parent? No. He was a wonderful father throughout my childhood. Instead, his answer reflected the time in which I grew up. People worried about the Depression that was just ending, and the war with Germany and Japan, and later the Cold War with Russia. They did not invest much effort in hand-wringing over their children -- at least not until some kind of problem developed. Trouble was not anticipated. And why not? Because there were fewer land mines for kids in that era. I attended high school during the “Happy Days” of the 1950s, and I never saw or even heard of anyone taking an illegal drug. It happened, I suppose, but it was certainly no threat to me. Some students liked to get drunk, but alcohol was not a big deal in my social environment. Others played around with sex, but the girls who did were considered “loose” and were not respected. Virginity was still in style for males and females. Occasionally a girl came up pregnant, but she was packed off in a hurry and I never knew where she went. As for homosexuals and lesbians, a few students were open about their lifestyle, but I didn’t know them personally. There were certainly no posters on our bulletin boards advertising Gay Pride Month or Condom Week. Most of my friends respected their parents, went to church on Sunday, studied hard enough to get by and lived a fairly clean life. There were exceptions, of course, but this was the norm. Today’s kids, by contrast, are walking through the Valley of the Shadow! Drugs, sex, alcohol, rebellion and alternative lifestyles are everywhere. Those dangers have never been so evident as they are now, and the worst may be yet to come. Do you think children between five and 10 should be allowed to listen Q grown smitten with the shiny appeal of expensive things. Ultimately, it’s not the things themselves but what they represent that is important. These are symbols of the success you’re working so hard to achieve. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll be in charge of children and those who act like them - cleaning up after them and seeing that they don’t get into mischief. The details involved are more numerous than you anticipated when you agreed to the job, and yet that’s what makes your efforts more meaningful. You’re learning right along with them. THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS: You’ll be a leader, not because you are appointed, but because you appoint yourself, learn all you need to know about your task, teach others and make a commitment to continual growth. In August, the spotlight swings to special relationships. You let new people into your heart. September brings the feeling that you’re moving up in the world - the evidence comes in October. There’s a lively power exchange in November that brings you financial opportunities in 2009. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Possessions drift in and out of your life like foam upon the sea. You appreciate the loveliness of each thing, savoring its uniqueness and developing a sentimental attachment. But ultimately, you’re willing to let stuff go when it no longer serves you or if it creates clutter. This is the attitude of abundance. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). If you were to perceive everything going on around you, it would be too difficult to function. So you’ve A FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY Infrequent heavenly meetings often pack the most weight. Let’s say you and a friend infrequently see one another. When you finally do “meet,” you’re both amped and it’s memorable, right? This week, the planet of raw ambition (Mars) reunites with the planet of due diligence (Saturn) for the first time in two and a half years, offering applied energy and focused determination toward our ambitions. Eventually, persistence pays off. ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re likely being asked to make a bigger commitment than you think is ideal for you. At first, the thought of it is enough to make your knees knock. Give it time. The right way will reveal itself. No amount of thinking, worrying or weighing of options will help. You’ll feel it in your gut, and that’s that. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You are equal to every other being, though when fiscal considerations arise, you might mistakenly feel otherwise. Remember that money is just one way to express your energy - there are a million other expressions you could choose. Try not to think of things strictly in terms of their monetary value. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re willing to take a risk, partially because you haven’t assessed the degree of risk you’re getting into - the benefits are that compelling! Since you’re already mostly in, sorting through the pros and cons is useless at this point. Commit your whole self. With your faith, you’ll overcome insurmountable odds. CANCER (June 22-July 22). You are getting organized and clear-headed with your financial goals, perhaps because you’ve to rock music on the radio, TV or CDs? Not if it can be avoided. Today’s contemporary music is an expression of an increasingly unsavory adolescent culture. The lyrics often deal with drug use, sex, and violence. This is just what you don’t want your seven-year-old thinking about. Instead, his or her entertainment should consist of adventure books, children’s productions, Bible stories and other Christian literature, and family activities -- camping, fishing, sporting events, games, etc. On the other hand, it is unwise to appear dictatorial and oppressive in such matters. I would suggest that you keep your preteen so involved with wholesome activities that he does not need to dream of the days to come. (Dr. Dobson is founder and chairman of the board of the nonprofit organization Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO 80995(www.family.org). Questions and answers are excerpted from “Solid Answers” and “Bringing Up Boys,” both published by Tyndale House. Copyright 2008 James Dobson Inc. Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate.) revenue generated by digital music sales, with tracks available through 500 online services located in 40 countries, according to IBISWorld Inc. ing positions (not including the replacement of many retiring engineers) that will be needed over the 10-year period between 2006 and 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Source: American Society for Engineering Education. 10: Estimated percentage 28: Percentage of Ameri- John MacIntyre $2 billion: Estimated of the total global music market this represents. 5 billion: In 2006, esti- mated number of songs, equating to 38,000 years of music, that were swapped on peer-to-peer Web sites. 509 million: Number that were purchased online. Source: IBISWorld. 1.2: Percentage decline in the number of engineering bachelor’s degrees in 2007, according to a survey by the American Society for Engineering Education. 8.8: Percentage drop in engineering master’s degrees since 2005. 160,000: Projected number of new engineer- cans who say that they will be able to retire comfortably, according to a study released by Bankrate Inc. 33: Percentage who say they’ll have just enough finances to get by when retired. $24 billion: Estimated value of the home video market -- the largest segment of consumer movie spending, according to findings released by the Entertainment Merchants Association. 49: Estimated percentage of all consumer movie spending in 2007 that is represented by the home video market. Source: Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA). 43: When asked what they have set low expectations about their retirement prospects. Source: Bankrate Inc. would most enhance U.S. energy security, percentage of financial executives who said that the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve should be opened for drilling, according to the KPMG survey. 43: Estimated percentage 28: Percentage who said 65: Percentage of those that 50: When asked which 70: Percentage who say that of all U.S. weddings that are second marriages, according to the National Stepfamily Resource Center. involve children. Source: National Stepfamily Resource Center. Continued on Page B4. that investment in renewable energy (biodiesel, etc.) will enhance U.S. energy security the most. clean energy source will dominate in the next 20 years, percentage of respondents who cited natural gas. 31: Percentage who said nuclear energy. Source: KPMG LLP. 86: Percentage of the firms describing their quality programs as “mature/world class” that had established a correlation between cash flow and a specific quality metric, according to the “Measuring and Demonstrating the Value of Quality Initiatives” study. 57: Percentage of the study’s total benchmark class that was able to make the same claim. 100: Percentage of mature quality organizations that employ benchmarking to drive operational improvements. Source: Best Practices LLC. $105: Cost per dog for the Haute Dog Package (for dogs up to 22 lbs), which includes gourmet chow, thalassotherapy baths, a personal attendant and chauffeured transportation, according to Paraiso de la Bonita. $199: Cost for a doggie spa day, which includes grooming, thalassotherapy bath and a massage. Source: Paraiso de la Bonita. Idle Thought “Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.” -- Malcolm Forbes See Page B4 for Puzzle Answers. (Copyright 2008 John MacIntyre Inc. 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