Perhaps it takes courage to raise children. John Steinbeck
Perhaps?! Not perhaps! IT DOES! It takes courage. It takes a stoutness that most days I'm not sure I have. And then some days prove that I don't!
Recently my Mom and I have had to have a few conversations about parenting in today's world. Every generation has its challenges to be sure (those Beatles! They were rebels, haha!) but these days seem tougher than what has come before. Perhaps if you've read this post of mine then you know what I'm going to say next. Technology has done parents no favors. Oh sure, there are some pros but overall it has hindered parenting in ways nobody ever saw coming. My parents didn't have to monitor my online activity or my cell phone use - talking or text, they didn't have to teach me to look at people in the eye instead of remaining fixated on a screen. And those are just a few examples of how tough it is today! Technology has also encouraged kids to become adults quickly. It's so interesting (not to mention disturbing) to me to see this happen. Because of all that is readily available for kids these days they feel grown up. They actually believe they are grown up! But technology can't teach life experience. It can't teach valuable social skills despite the term social media. It can't teach important life skills. Only interactions apart from technologies can teach these important things.
Every parent has felt the butterflies of fear in their stomach but I wonder have the butterflies ever caused ulcers? There's so much more to monitor these days, to look out for, to help our kids learn how to filter, and to teach. It is not for the faint of heart. It is not for the selfish person. It is not for the person who had a baby because they wanted a friend. It is not for those who don't know how to say "no". It is for the courageous. It is for those who can say "no" because they know that is the best possible answer. It is for those who can sacrifice self and watch their hearts walk around outside of their bodies. Perhaps it takes courage? Oh no, Steinbeck, it does take courage and we need huge doses of it every single day.
Perhaps?! Not perhaps! IT DOES! It takes courage. It takes a stoutness that most days I'm not sure I have. And then some days prove that I don't!
Recently my Mom and I have had to have a few conversations about parenting in today's world. Every generation has its challenges to be sure (those Beatles! They were rebels, haha!) but these days seem tougher than what has come before. Perhaps if you've read this post of mine then you know what I'm going to say next. Technology has done parents no favors. Oh sure, there are some pros but overall it has hindered parenting in ways nobody ever saw coming. My parents didn't have to monitor my online activity or my cell phone use - talking or text, they didn't have to teach me to look at people in the eye instead of remaining fixated on a screen. And those are just a few examples of how tough it is today! Technology has also encouraged kids to become adults quickly. It's so interesting (not to mention disturbing) to me to see this happen. Because of all that is readily available for kids these days they feel grown up. They actually believe they are grown up! But technology can't teach life experience. It can't teach valuable social skills despite the term social media. It can't teach important life skills. Only interactions apart from technologies can teach these important things.
Every parent has felt the butterflies of fear in their stomach but I wonder have the butterflies ever caused ulcers? There's so much more to monitor these days, to look out for, to help our kids learn how to filter, and to teach. It is not for the faint of heart. It is not for the selfish person. It is not for the person who had a baby because they wanted a friend. It is not for those who don't know how to say "no". It is for the courageous. It is for those who can say "no" because they know that is the best possible answer. It is for those who can sacrifice self and watch their hearts walk around outside of their bodies. Perhaps it takes courage? Oh no, Steinbeck, it does take courage and we need huge doses of it every single day.
Comments
Post a Comment