Parental responsibility
Most of us make the choice to become parents. Others are forced into the position, and accept the responsibility to either raise children, or give them over to others that are able to do so. Either way, we bring miracles into this world. Many don’t realize how difficult it actually is for a woman to get pregnant. For as many babies that are born, the science behind it is seriously insane…I’m not just talking about the birds and bees version of this science. All the pieces that have to line up just perfectly in order for conception, are mind blowing. So, why do I make a big deal out of becoming a parent? Well, when something so delicate and rare occurs, you want to treat it with extreme care and delicacy. Not to an extreme in which you treat it like porcelain, but you want to care for it in a way that allows it to survive and thrive for quite some time.
Being Human, we as parents, have to continuously learn about everything in the world around us. The food we eat, and give to our families. The environment that surrounds us and the world, and how chemicals and toxins in those environments affect us, our families, and the environment. The minute we QUIT learning, and stop educating ourselves about these EXTREMELY IMPORTANT factors of human survival, is the minute we as a species start to die. I don’t mean to be the visitor of gloom, but it is true. When we quit learning and educating ourselves, we are not able to pass on any foundational knowledge, boundaries, or values, to our kids. When we as the parents don’t ever hold up a debate based on our values and boundaries, what do you think our kids will do when they get to be adults. Ever heard the statement, “What, did you lose your backbone?” EXACTLY! That statement is a perfect analogy for when parents QUIT their values and boundaries, in the home, based on what another person is FORCING down their throat. This doesn’t mean to shut out others opinions. What it means is ASK QUESTIONS. Determine for yourself if what this person, or group, is saying makes any sense in congruence with your values and boundaries. I personally LOVE debates with others of opposition. I find no other way of better education, then by hearing another’s opinion. And, vice versa. I LOVE educating others by informing them of information they may not know. THAT is called responsibility, a social responsibility. And, that responsibility begins in the home.
RAISING POWERFUL THINKERS
In this era of social media and news (that can rarely be determined FACTUAL), parents are on the forefront of deciphering current events to our kids. So many “facts” are broadcasted, and are then reviewed, and are then “updated”, and are then taken down all together, when it was found as fraudulent all together. Social media is a platform made of thousands of opinions. Nothing wrong with that, unless you are gullible. Many individuals read post and comments on these platforms, and take what they read as solid fact…when it isn’t. Without even researching what was written, their mind has determined that what they read is TRUE! Why?! Because the celebrity or influencer they love and have followed for forever said so, and if they say it, so shall it be! SAY WHAAAA?!!! I never knew so many celebrities and influencers were experts in science, history, and medicine. Could have fooled me. But, this is what we, the parents, are up against now a days. How the heck do we raise kids to think for themselves?!
Open conversations and debates with kids, is such an amazing way to learn, for both the parents and kids. Kids are exposed to so much more than we can even fathom in today’s world. Don’t you want to know what they experience, or even hear what their opinions are on certain situations? Sometimes, as parents, we assume our kids are relating to certain people and issues in a particular way, when we couldn’t be more off. Open up a conversation with them. If they have a different opinion, let them voice it. This is not an excuse for either to ARGUE a side, or point of view, it is to hear each other's opinion. So many times we lecture, and tell them how it is. We think we have the upper hand. Well, do you think telling other’s how it is, is working out for us in today’s society? Now a days you can’t even sneeze in the wrong direction without someone screaming down your throat about how you sneezed wrong, and not according to the status quo. In teaching your kids HOW to converse openly and learn from another’s opinion, we can raise kids who are eager to hear what others have to say, and to ask questions. Not kids who cower in a corner and never speak up because they have a different opinion, or perhaps just don’t fully understand the topic at hand. We need to teach our kids how to SPEAK with others, not how to TELL others. In doing so, the future generations will learn to gather as much information, from multiple outlets, before coming to any conclusion.
RAISING ROBOTS
It always cracks me up thinking about The Terminator movie. How can robots take over our society? But, then I start to somewhat freak out in the thought that we (my generation) are raising and creating the robots! Ever REALLY sat back and observed how much stuff we, and our kids, do on technology? I mean, I am writing this Blog on a Laptop!!! Everything we do is tracked, traced, or at least it can be. When we are born, boom…here’s your identity, you now have a number (your social security number). While I understand many of our procedures are logical and created for identity and protection purposes, it still makes me numb at the thought that we, myself included, tend to fall in line with what everyone else is doing. We all go to the same grocery store, we all scroll the same social media outlets, we all use the same kind of cosmetics. Until one day, a light bulb goes off, or a jolt of your hand hits your head. Then words escape your mouth that sound something like, “Seriously, why would I do that to myself or my family?” Or, “How could I be allowing that to happen in my life or my home?” More often then not, these monumental moments occur after a tragedy, or a life altering experience…a metaphorical slap across your face that is telling you something isn’t right! So how do we cut the wires before tragedy or a life altering situation takes place?
Go against the status quo. It is pretty rare that you will witness my kids inside on tech. I’m not saying they are never on it, but it is very rare to see them on it. And, when they are, it is limited and carefully selected information. ALL of us agree on it in our home. (Learning how to create awesome cakes…totally! Watching other kids open things…NOPE!) Instead of focusing on tech though, encourage the kids to play outside. And, another against the flow thought…let them be. Allow your kids to explore their own room, backyard, and even the sandbox at the playground on their own. See what they learn from exploring. I remember learning how to build a fort as a kid…that’s engineering. How about playing Capture the Flag…that’s strategy. Or, perhaps make believe…that teaches anything from problem solving to creativity. No expert will ever convince me that my kid will learn more from YouTube than from exploring outside. It is not possible! And any expert who attempts to convince me better have some amazing scientific studies that can prove their debate. I’m all ears for anyone that wants to have a conversation and debate about it! But truly, we as parents set the tone for HOW our kids learn. If we truly want to raise independent thinkers instead of robots, we need to allow our children to be HUMAN, and not robots in learning skills. If all kids learned strategy from playing Fortnite, can you imagine what our world will become? I’d rather live in a world with others that are capable to find solutions in multiple ways, rather than having to be forced to comply with one method of thinking. YUCK!!! Being a robot sounds dreadful.
Be different. Think outside the box…in fact just think! If you are unsure of something, or your child seems confused or scared of something, research it! Don’t rely on what others are telling you. Because that’s all they are doing, telling you, not explaining anything to you. Limit BS and non factual information for you and your family. Be your own research expert. Enforce your own values and boundaries, and talk about them regularly with your family. These rare little eyes and ears were your choice to bring in to this world. Now it is time for you to raise them with the most powerful skill for survival: Knowledge.
