Certainly, most parents today want to raise healthy, happy, successful, well-rounded children with good character. Parents follow the large amount of “how to” advice that society continues to generate, they believe they are doing everything “right,” but they don't seem to achieve the desired result (Boteach 1). Parents are left with more questions than they started with, children continue to understand negative characteristics, and the gap between what is desired and what is produced continues to grow. Therefore, this article will examine the cultural, social, parental and communication causes that explain why this is happening. A general explanation might be that it seems that the more we advance technologically and educationally, the more we digress socially and individually. American society has gone from families living in close proximity to each other, with weekly reunions and genuine bonding, to families spread across the country who only get together every other Thanksgiving or Christmas, and possibly a few week in the summer, with a mind- set of obligations rather than devotion. Family friendships that once spanned generations have been replaced by chains of multiple lifestyle enclaves that simply do not provide roots for today's families. And parenting, which was once based on instinct, logic and generational advice, is now fueled by the need to find a “how to” manual to provide the appropriate answers in the quest to produce the perfect child. Social, parental and communication elements have an effect on parenting children today, this article will explore the messages that parents create and communicate to their children in relation to the desire that is actually put on paper... .t with which they are in contact. In other words, parenting has evolved into something that is done for other parents, not for children. American Children In the article, The Demise of Child-Rearing, Lyric Wallwork Winik paints a picture of modern American children: In many ways, not since then were four- and five-year-olds sent to the mines or relegated to factories because it was more difficult to be children. Children are more medicated than ever. They are routinely exposed to sexual situations first, as well as violence, illicit drugs and alcohol. With the rise of sexual predators, most are no longer free to hop on bikes and explore the suburban world; many are not even allowed to walk a city or suburban block alone. Spontaneous playtime has given way to scheduled play dates and miniature organized soccer leagues.