I admit to being middle-aged but have never understood the concept of forgetting my childhood or how I felt as a teenager. I work with about 1500 people ranging in age from 20 to 70 and talk to as many colleagues as I can. And I watch. And I listen.
It just appears to me that more and more parents wish they had not raised their own children, that they want them gone and that they certainly don't won't to spend any time with them. I was raised by parents who fitted this category.
Most importantly, parents tend to believe they have no responsibility to raise their children with any respect, ethics or desires.
Why? Don't they care about this world. the future? Their own happiness? They certainly don't care about their children's happiness. Happiness at my workplace is pretty much considered a joke and the only way to achieve it is through alchohol, or drugs, or getting their kids to move out.
I really worry about what world there will be with so much disconnection.
Tell me I'm wrong. Please.
Discuss
Laura Dragonetti on January 19, 2008, 9:01 AM
I think that your observations have been of only the negative side. I know personally that my happiness, my sister’s happiness, and my brother’s happiness are very important to my parents. Though I know I’m lucky to have them I also know I’m not the only one who has great parents. The people you see are probably people who didn’t really want to be parents in the first place. And what you see is awful, but we’ll just have to hope that their children will be able to find love and happiness from other people, such as friends. We’ll also have to hope in that their developpment they will be able to find some other kind of role model.
Justine Church on January 26, 2008, 1:23 AM
This is certainly a bleak picture you paint of modern parenting. I feel in a fortunate postition to say- this does not reflect my experience!
Although my father may joke occasionally about wanting my brother to move out, he actually enjoys his company very much. Also, my in-laws just had their son and daughter move out months apart from each other. Although they were sad to see them go, they expressed pride in bringing up two wonderful children who have married or bought their own home.
In regards to my peers, who are all currently in the process of either getting engaged, married, or having their first baby, their is definately an optimism about the future. People want to bring up their children to have respect, good morals, and to value time spent with family.
I’m interested to know what kind of place you are working at!
Lisa Hunt on March 1, 2008, 4:09 AM
I work in the Commonwealth Public service in Australia, maybe its a place for the slightly morose or disillusioned.
And I thank God that the two respondents have talked so lovingly of their own families.
I failed to metion the 4 beautiful and amazing children I have myself and that I adore them more every day of their lives. They range in age from 17 to 26 and they are happy, considerate and intelligent people who have never doubted whether they were loved themselves so shower their worlds with happiness. My own family is gorgeous and now I just sound like I’m feeling superior or something. Sorry. Just wanted every family to feel loved and am mystified why that is not every parents desire.
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