COUNSELING AND CONSULTATION ASSOCIATES, INC.COUNSELING AND CONSULTATION ASSOCIATES, INC.
Phillip L. Blansett, Ph.D.
1621 Eagle Trace Drive
Mount Juliet, Tennessee 37122-7428
(615) 758-7568
Website: http://DrBlansett.com
Email: DrBlansett@DrBlansett.com
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Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Parenting
by
Phillip L. Blansett, Ph.D.
Looking outside my window at Division Street and Mount Juliet Road I'm reminded of the year I entered graduate school. I went to graduate school in New York City for two reasons. First, that is where the school was, and second, I'd heard so much about New York City, and Yankees, and such, I really wondered if it was all true. Someone told me that the best thing about New York City was that it is so close to the United States. The first winter in New York was beautiful as the large snowflakes drifted down covering everything in a beautiful white blanket. My professor commented that snow in Manhattan was the ultimate statement of defeat. When asked why he felt that way, he responded "Everyone knows that however beautiful it is, in just a moment, it, too, will be covered in soot, dirt, grime, and oil." That is how I felt when I looked out of my window at Division Street and Mount Juliet Road this morning as the seven man crew of the C&D Safety Company measured and planned, and consulted, and re-measured in preparation for painting those annoying yellow and white stripes on the road. I call them annoying because, after they leave, they will be largely ignored. People wanting to turn right will try their best to create a non-existent right turn lane by crossing over the "Never-Cross" solid white line that has been freshly painted. People wanting to make a left turn into the business across the street will cross the double "Especially NEVER-Cross-Here-Under-Any-Circumstances" double yellow lines that have been freshly painted. But they'll do it anyway... both of them, painters and drivers, ignoring each other, painting and crossing. I've had people ask me what the big deal is about the lines. Why do I spend time and energy writing and speaking about such a topic that no one cares about. And that is the answer. Mount Juliet and Wilson county can pass school dress codes, thinking that shooters and bombers are neutralized if they have to dress up first. That dressing up somehow puts a safety on their guns that dressing grungy doesn't. I imagine the designers of the dress codes feel as satisfied as the engineers and painters of the street feel when they are finished. "There! We've had the last word on that matter, and we are safe once more.", they might both be heard to shout. But we know, like the snow in New York, before the paint or the ink is dry, people have found ways to circumvent, ignore, violate, exploit and break the spirit and intent of the paint and the dress code. Our children are at risk. Indeed, our families are at risk. And the risk grows and intensifies as we buy more Band-Aids while ignoring the infection of lawlessness and discipline. Are we showing our children how to obey the laws while working to change the bad ones? Or, are we joining in the other forces in our society that say "Ignore the laws, do what you wish, everyone does it."
Next week we'll continue to examine how neighbors can help neighbors in parenting.
Dr. Phillip Blansett is a psychotherapist in private practice in Nashville and West Wilson County.
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