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"Many answered
yes.
Those who
said no. did so not because of secrets
or fear of punishment, but because
of fear of disillusioning and disap–
pointing their parents, or because
they felt that there was simply no
possibility for more understanding.
"Question: Would you like to
know more about them?
"Aimost all said yes.
" Question: Was there a time
when you decided it was better not
to tell your parents personal things?
" l
never talked to my parents, was
one fairly common an-
swer. Others said there
famiJy unit becomes more evident.
Not all parents realize they are out
of contact with their children - that
school influences are stronger than
the family.
Our youth need direction and a
consisten! set of guidelines. Every
parent should be doing everything
possible for preschool children in
laying the foundation of discipline
and right teachirig.
One teen-age girl summarized the
feelings of many teen-agers when
she was asked: " Do you have pri-
What have you taught your chil–
dren?
In an interview, Mike, a Penn
State junior, made a candid state–
ment about his parents:
"J
never got
one iota of sex training from my
parents... . I thiok parents a re very
oa·ive."
He says further about bis mother:
"I
can't sit down and talk with my
mother about something that 's bug–
ging me."
These young people are oot un–
usual. These parents are not, unfor–
tunately. a rarity in our
once was s uch a time,
but they could not recall
it. Many seemed to feel
that time had been
around the age of six.
GarnerTedArmstrong
COMMENTARY
society. These family sit–
uations are typical.
When we consider the
breakdown of the home,
the terribly unhappy
marriages, the declining
There was a strong feel–
ing that parents didn't
wan t to know mor e
about their children and
were unwiWng to receive
communications on any
subject where th e re
might be disagreement"
(ibid..
pp. 307-308).
Nowexpanding toyourarea
role of father, and the
changed role of mother.
is it any wonder our so–
cieties are literally com–
ing apart thread by
thread? The fabric tbat
underlies a healthy so–
ciety - the home itself –
is being ripped apart.
Garner Ted Armstrong, long known for his lucid,
provocative, and insightful commentaries on con–
temporary world events, can now be
and
When Communication
Breaks Down
Parents sta rt Losing com–
munication wilh their
children about the age of
six - about the time they
enter school. lt seems at
this point that parent
and child begin to live in
two diiferent worlds.
Their inte res ts pa
rt .
Their lives become more
enigmatic to eách other
until there is really ooth-
ing to
talk
a bout.
Here. in ma ny cases, is
heard on many additional sta–
tions throughout the United
States and Ganada. In fact,
Garner Ted Armstrong's
S–
minute radio commentaries
are being broadcast on so ·
many new stations, we are
notable to provide a listing in
this issue. We suggest you
check your local radio and TV
listings for programs in
your area, or write di–
rectly to Garner Ted
Armstrong, Pasadena,
CA 91123 for an up–
dated worldwide
Radio / TV Log .
the beginning of the problem. As
long as all members of the family
share everything in common and
the children are not atfected by out–
side interests. all
seems
to go well.
The lack of communication, genu–
ine interest, and outgoing concern
between members of the family has
not yet shown its weakness at this
poiot in a child's life.
vate moments with your father
where you sit down over coffee and
he tells you something?"
' 'No."
"Do you wish you did?"
"No. 1 try to avoid that sort of
thing . ..."
She continues: " l have no rapport
with my father. I don ' t think there's
anything binding my father a nd me.
I never got any sex education when
J
was younger.
J
came by it, I guess,
like most girls my age do, in schooL
dirty jokes, dirty books ."
But when children enter school
and grow older, new interests and
influences begin to make their
marks. As time progresses. the
weakness allowed to develop in the
The
PLAIN TRUTH March 1977
Does this describe your home?
What can you parents
do to see that this gener–
ation will grow up to be
sound, respectfuJ, usefuJ
citizens in a world run–
ning amuck?
What Can You Do?
The answer involves one
basic considera tion. You
cannot be a good fathe r
unless you are first a
good husband. And you
cannot be a good mother
unless you are first a
good wife.
The climate set by the
husband and wife definitely in–
f!uences the climate in which the
chi ld will be reared. If a child is
reared in turmoil , strife and con–
fusion. how can he learn stability
and peace? Children learn by imi–
tating. When the only thing they
have at home to imitate is constant
bickering and strife between father
and mother. they become hostile
and aggressive toward others and
lose the sense of security that comes
from a warm home relationship.
The two people a young child
!oves most in the world are his
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