Yesterday a small boy informed me that he wouldn't be in school on Monday. He would be too tired, because he was going to play football on Saturday and Sunday. I pointed out some of the really good bits about school: seeing his friends, and learning. Unfortunately, due to his lack of teeth, his friends can't understand him, and he does not need to learn because he wants to be a footballer. I tried to think of a footballer who is a shining example of having benefited from a good education, but know very little about the current crop of celebrity players. I hesitantly enquired whether he liked David Beckham and he fell about laughing. Ali later told me I should probably have suggested Wayne Rooney....

A few moments ago I read some comments from Jacqueline Wilson, creator of Tracy Beaker, bemoaning the fact that todays teens are allowed to grow up too early. As a mother there are days when I wish the likes of Ms Beaker did not exist, with her liking for attitude against adults.

Where are the positive role models for children?

Initially, parents, of course. Teachers. Inevitably, television characters and presenters. We could all do with lifting our game! My own parents often stated, "Don't do as I do, do as I say," so that I looked forward to a day when I could, as a grown up, do as I pleased with no fear of reprisal. Were it not for the children, who seem to take great delight in pointing out every perceived parental error, like smiling for too long at one person, buying myself petrol and other such selfish acts! The joys of parenthood!

The only solution there is to scrap the notion that we can do one thing and say another. We have to be the change we wish to see, all the time. The "Me" culture is the product of all that has gone before; if we want to affect the future, we have to learn from the past. There are those that complain about anti-social behaviour being down to lack of discipline, stating that these kids need "A clip around the ear," thus teaching them that it is ok to take an aggressive approach. Yet today's children are the product of generations of corporal punishment, tit-for-tat. Gandhi was wise to say that if we continue to take an eye for an eye, everyone ends up blind.

Why would it be fine for them to receive aggression but not to give it out?

This is what we should be teaching,surely? Verbal skills, the ability to negotiate, to be kind and loving. The notion of a "Peace Keeping Force;" can somebody explain what is right about that? I know, from experience, that if I get angry with those around me, I am also going to feel angry at myself. I want peace, but I can't achieve it forcefully. By working on my inner peace, I can react peacefully, and allow that peace to flow into my family and home.

If I diffuse situations with laughter, harmony and love, that makes the way through a day far more pleasant than anger and pain.

I am hoping that the footballing boy feels lively enough to go to school on Monday, even if only cheered a little by the recollection of the woman who made him laugh by suggesting David Beckham as a possible hero!