If you were told that you only have a few months to live, how would your children remember you?

I know this may create a problem with some of you, but I keep seeing this over and over again in my business, working mothers, and lost children. I strongly feel that the American family is broken. We have more kids in trouble at ridiculously young ages. Screaming for attention? Screaming to be heard? Pregnant at 12, in jail for murder at 8? Come on people, there’s a reason here! We are! OUR FAULT! They have no direction. Families need at least two incomes to survive. Children are left wandering the streets or watching bad TV and music videos and this becomes their compass.

It’s time for all of us to realize that ADD, ADHD, emotional issues, and anger issues can all be reduced if we just go back and make the decision to raise our own children. Be at home. Give structure. Give discipline. Make dinner. Eat together. Discuss dreams, values, and goals together. Sounds a little like the 50s again, doesn’t it?

I am a career consultant. I work with many women who have made the decision to have children and then need to go back to work as soon as possible to survive. Because of this, our children are suffering. In the end, our society will pay a price that was unimaginable just a few years ago.

Consider this; Its leaders in a few years are children who have grown up and been raised by MTV, vampire movies, violent video games and horror. They have been eating fast food, most of them are overweight, suffer from ADD, ADHD, anger issues and emotional problems due to poor self esteem and bad diets.

Come on ladies, if you’re going to get pregnant and give birth to a tiny little person, you’d better commit to honoring and raising them. Because if you screw it up, it will follow you forever! I know. I worked and was a single mother for a good part of my daughter’s young life. Today he is 25 years old and has no direction. I spent most of my time fighting and trying to be the best young talent executive rather than the best mom. Now, at 43, I see the damage my chaos caused. I see the repercussions every day in my daughter’s life. His inability to reason and his rights issues are a constant concern.

So how do we fix it?

From 0 to 3 years. This is a vital time for mom to be home. If you must work outside the home, do so after the child is 3 years old. Next, make sure you have a structure that gives your child security and consistency. Be predictable for your children. The most important thing is to be responsible. Do not dissapear!

There are several ways in which a working mother or father can work and still be at home and available to their children. I work with some great people who have great ideas and I am sure their children will benefit. Now I know this isn’t from the 50s. And I know I’ve struck a chord with some of you. I also know that we live in a world that demands change. We must open a new road as soon as possible. Where we are will lead to our demise. We can no longer afford the luxury of agitating or depending on big companies and employers. This is no longer our security. It is time to build our life and our future ourselves. Create a future for our children that we can be proud of. Leave them a legacy and memories that don’t stop at X Box!