of Kids, Crossing Guards.... the old and the new

Ugh, I used to be a crossing guard when I was in the fifth and sixth grades, and I loved it.... however, today, I saw a kid, who couldn't be past the fourth grade doing the job, NOT only was he waving the stop sign as he was waiting for fellow classmates to cross the street, but once he was back on the corner, he was using the sign as a gun, and there was a teacher or parent STANDING right there.... what has happened to the rules for being a crossing guard? I can remember that if you played with the signs when I was doing it, we'd get repremanded.... *shakes head* I don't know about the current generation of school kids.... I think they are too soft, too babied.... too.... I don't know. Well I know but i don't know how to put it to words.....
We are treating the kids of today with kid gloves, every time we turn around there's a new case of child abuse or something, NOT because the child was beaten by the parents, but the child fell down and bruised an arm and CPS is called. Seriously, what has happened to the kids of today?
Parents are more apt to plop them down in front of the TV then send them outside to play because there are more dangers in today's world than that of yesteryear, but if you don't want the kids playing in the front yard, SEND THEM TO THE BACK YARD.....
Why are we being afraid of our kids? Yes we want them to have a better life than what we had growing up, who doesn't but why cater to their every whim? why sacrifice our morals and beliefs about child rearing to "doctors" who "know better?"
CHILDREN DO NOT COME WITH INSTRUCTION MANUALS, PARENTING IS A LEARNING ON THE JOB TRAINING, AND NO ONE IS PERFECT!!!!

once we accept that, we can relax and let our kids be kids. they are growing up way to fast these days

((I know I'm rambling, but I'm just writing it down as it comes to me i do hope in whole it makes sense))