Heavy thoughts to ponder

It seems lately that I've had the priveledge of hearing some friends personal childhood experiences that have really had me thinking.
What is different about this generation in terms of raising children and let's say the generation of the 60's? I keep hearing stories about those who grew up in the 50's and 60's and the heartbreak of families that were torn apart because of poverty. My own dear Aunt Bonnie, was raised by her aunt. Hearing her feelings about knowing her siblings were across town in another home and she had to be away from them really makes me sad. My grandma had made the decision for her sister to raise her because there just wasn't enough food in the house. She wasn't the only one. Her half sister Roseann also lived somewhere else. Truth be known, my mom had a tough childhood. Being with her siblings had it's own challenges. They went without alot of things. But I wonder if they realized Bonnie existed. She was only two when she was placed with her aunt and she's one of the oldest. It's just a really sad story. She said she never got to really see them until she was 16.
There's a home a few down from us. In it lives a Grandmother who is raising twin girls and a boy and sometimes their father is there. The mother lives downstate somewhere, but they seldom see her. Both the Grandmother and their dad sit in the bar all afternoon and they come home right before the bus gets here. I wonder to myself what kind of home they come home to. I'm not trying to be judgemental, but I guess I feel that pain for those kids. I'm close to the situation because the kids spend alot of time here. I have to watch them pretty close, but it's getting better. Sometimes I hear them swearing so I tell them that they can't talk like that here. They are respectful and usually are very careful now. But they also seem to have alot of violence in them. It's kind of scary to let my kids play with them so they are only allowed to play here. They are in 3rd and 4th grades and have seen every "Saw" movie that has been made. The father has come down and yelled at the kids and I've seen them tremble in fear as they leave.
There's some other kids down the road that beg to come over. We've had some bad experiences with them as well so it's far and few between now. Again, another family where the parents are taking the kids to the bars with them afterschool. What is happening to the family dynamic? Why does it seem that more and more parents are so self centered that they would even consider taking kids to bars! The kids don't know there's anything wrong with it. They probably think it's kind of cool to play darts or pool. I guess what is most troubling is that these kids are riding home with parents under the influence. One of Tyler's good friends- the one whose parents have both passed on from cancer is being raised by a single man. He takes him to the bar a couple times a week with him. And it's school nights and he's even being teased at school with names like "bar boy". It breaks my heart. When he's mentioned to us that he's been at the local bar, his face turns red and he looks like he wants to cry. He's 11.
There seems to an epidemic. Or am I just in the weird position of hearing of so many? How do you explain to your own kids that, No this is not the norm, when it sure does seem like it. There are six kids right here near our home that are dealing with this very issue. A friend of mine mentioned to me tonight that maybe this could be a a little mission for me. I have sort of felt that way right along, but the numbers are growing. We've invited the three kids(that live with the grandmother) to VBS with us and WOL and the father was very upset about it. It's okay for him to send his kids down here to my house for hours because it's convenient for him, but he doesn't want anything good fed into his kids' head either.
There are so many children growing up in homes where they aren't shown love, aren't given proper meals, aren't helped with homework, aren't valued. And yet I hear of third world countries that the media is promoting to support. Wake up America! We have a crisis in our own alleys and backyards. I live in rural america and it's right here. We're living below the national poverty level and yet I think we are able to give our kids the values and love that are priceless. What do you think- should laws be tougher on deadbeat parents as far as removing children from bad situations? Should bar owners report parents to DSS who bring kids into bars or drive home with them drunk? The kids don't have a choice, the parents do. I think the bar owners have a choice as well.
A lighter topic is promised next...I am just heavily burdened with this tonight and needed to get it off my chest. I guess all I can do I pray for them and hope that things will get better for them all.