I grew up in Seligman with my two sisters as a child.

Growing up, we were taught to respect and love one another. You did not back talk or sass your parent or grandparents. You did as you were told to do.

Unfortunately, I see many children mouthing or cursing parents or grandparents. How did we get to this point?

Around the holidays, we had a huge family gathering, and all of my family came together and gorged ourselves until we couldn’t eat anymore. In the last few years, we as a family have lost a lot of that.

There are no more family gatherings on Thanksgiving or Christmas. There are no family reunions because 9 times out of 10, families can’t get along anymore.

My opinion is that most of the pillars in our families have passed away. The ones who kept everyone in line. They made sure everyone was on the same page and no funny business was going on.

With them gone, a lot of families have crumbled. This is leading to fights and losing all those wonderful small-town values that our families have worked so hard for so long to instill in us and make us great.

Unfortunately, we have lost our way in the last decade or so and the amount of disrespect that most children and teens have for their elders is mind-blowing.

I, unfortunately, see this firsthand.

People are being treated with disrespect because of their situation or how they live. Children are being bullied because they have a learning disability or look different.

Let’s return to those smalltown values and teach our children how to love no matter how someone looks or learns differently.

Parents, grandparents, aunt and uncles — anyone who has any kind of influence over a child — they are watching!

Be kind! Help that person today! Hold that door open! Say I love you one more time!

Let’s get our children on track to be the best that they can possibly be and have some great small-town values instilled in them. Every school year, I tell my children, “You don’t know what a child is going through at home, so be kind.”

Help them up when they are down! Be that friend!

If you see someone crying or down be the one to step up and comfort them.

As adults, it starts with us to sow these values.

Kimberly Healey is the supervisor of the Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation’s Barry County Neighborhood Center. She may be reached at 417-847-2140 or khealey@oac.ac.