About Stanley Jay

Stan Jay

At 27, Stanley Jay became the public relations director for a small photography Studio. Five years later, he was elected president and expanded the company nationally. He nurtured hundreds of co-workers with every type of problem learning the steps youth must take to get onto the path leading to a fulfilling life.

Stan lives in California with his wife of 54 years, is the father of four, Grandfather of 9, still waiting for Great-grandchild number one.

WHY DID I WRITE THIS BOOK?

SINCE I RETIRED, I TRY TO HAVE LUNCH EVERY MONTH OR SO WITH MY CHILDREN, THEIR SPOUSES, AND MY GRANDCHILDREN.  THEY GET ABSOLUTE SINCERITY AND 'TELL-IT-LIKE-IT-IS' HONESTY FROM ME, AND I'M PLEASED ABOUT THE FACT THAT I ALSO GET IT FROM THEM.  OUR GENERATION GAVE OUR CHILDREN GREAT LOVE, BUT OFTEN NOT VERY MUCH DISCIPLINE OR CONTROLS.  YOUTH NEED THE QUALITIES AND VALUES THAT DISCIPLINE AND CONTROLS PROVIDE FOR THEM, AND ENABLE THEM TO GROW UP TO BE WELL-ROUNDED ADULTS.  THE MOVIES, MUSIC, AND MAGAZINES WE SELL TO OUR YOUTH HAVE LED THEM INTO A NO-MANS LAND OF TRAPS.  NATURALLY, THEY HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THOSE TRAPS.  AND, WITHOUT ADULT MENTORING, THEY CANNOT LEARN HOW TO AVOID THEM OR, TO DEAL WITH THEM.

FORTUNATELY, MY FAMILIES CHILDREN HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE IN AVOIDING TRAPS AND IN DEALING WITH THOSE THAT ARE UNAVOIDABLE.  WE, AS A FAMILY, HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR OWN KIDS AND GRAND-KIDS.  MANY OTHERS ARE NOT SO BLESSED.

IN-DEPTH RESEARCH WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL AS WITH PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS REGARDING THE SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS BOOK HAS GIVEN ME MUCH MORE UNDERSTANDING AND CLARITY REGARDING WHAT WE DID RIGHT IN RAISING OUR CHILDREN, AND WHAT WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER.

I HAVE FOUND THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT LIFE THAT MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE TODAY CAN BE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE LACK OF MENTORING THEY GET FROM THEIR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.  THE NEEDS, DESIRES AND TEMPTATIONS OF YOUNGSTERS ARE OFTEN SHROUDED IN MYSTERY.  HOW CAN YOUNGSTERS BE ENLIGHTENED REGARDING RECOGNITION OF LIFE'S TRAPS, HOW TO AVOID THEM AND HOW TO HANDLE THOSE THAT ARE UNAVOIDABLE?  IT'S CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE WHEN THOSE SUBJECTS ARE OFTEN AN ENIGMA FOR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS ALIKE. TO PROVIDE SOLID FACTS AND REAL-WORLD ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS OF MANY YOUNG PEOPLE IS PRECISELY WHY I RESEARCHED AND WROTE 'TRAPS'.  

HOPEFULLY, MY EXPERIENCES, RESEARCH, AND THE SUBSEQUENT RECOMMENDATIONS I PROVIDE IN THIS BOOK WILL PROVE TO BE BENEFICIAL TO CURRENT, AS WELL AS FUTURE YOUNGSTERS AND THEIR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.