Stop for a moment and consider the ironies of life. When we were children, we couldn’t wait to get older; now that we are older, of course, we wish we were kids again. It’s strange how the grass is always greener on the other side. Children grow up looking for someone who represents their role model, their ideal future self. They search for a reference point—something to aspire towards to attain their definition of perfection. What they should be encouraged to do instead is to be themselves and enjoy the time they have while growing at their own pace.
As parents or relatives, we adults can’t wait for children to start talking. When they grow up, we can’t wait for them to stop talking all the time. We want them to shut up. Then when they are in their teens and begin to build their private space, we want them to “talk” to us. For their own good in the future, we even suggest they take public speaking courses—something they might have been proficient in as children.
Similarly, we can’t wait for kids to start walking; when they do, we want them to sit in one place. When they reach their teens, we worry of their health and want them to get involved with physical activity classes, go to gyms, or take up some sort of sport!
Don’t you think we should start changing this unending pattern of control? Shouldn’t children just be left to act their age and behave the way they want to—the way they were meant to? Allow them this small mercy. After all, society will harass us all more than enough once we grow up!
As parents or relatives, we adults can’t wait for children to start talking. When they grow up, we can’t wait for them to stop talking all the time. We want them to shut up. Then when they are in their teens and begin to build their private space, we want them to “talk” to us. For their own good in the future, we even suggest they take public speaking courses—something they might have been proficient in as children.
Similarly, we can’t wait for kids to start walking; when they do, we want them to sit in one place. When they reach their teens, we worry of their health and want them to get involved with physical activity classes, go to gyms, or take up some sort of sport!
Don’t you think we should start changing this unending pattern of control? Shouldn’t children just be left to act their age and behave the way they want to—the way they were meant to? Allow them this small mercy. After all, society will harass us all more than enough once we grow up!
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