The way we parent is one of the things that sets us apart from most other creatures on our planet. We humans nourish, protect, and cherish our offspring long after they are able to stand on their own two feet and feed themselves.
Because of that, I tend to judge a person’s humanity by how s/he treats her/his child.
I mean, you’re either a human or you’re not. Pick a side.
I’ve seen people get so caught up in work, causes, and networking that they forget what life is really about. By that, I mean they forget their children. The desire to make a name for themselves, to leave their mark on the world, is so strong they treat their kids like last week’s emails.
You know. The old I’ll-take-care-of-it-later thing. Which really means it’ll be forgotten until it becomes no longer relevant and can be deleted.
News flash! Kids will never be irrelevant. And no deleting allowed.
Second news flash! Kids will continue to grow and learn, even without parental guidance and support. Of course they might learn to hate and grow into villains, twisted versions…
Never mind. I don’t want to go there.
Instead, I want to talk to ‘driven’ parents who think success is measured in dollars and fame.
It’s not.
Children are, and will always be, the best, most powerful way to leave a mark on the world.
You are training a human to be human! Put some effort into it!
-Teach kids that although they are important, that doesn’t make them the center of the universe.
-Make them understand that they may have to fight for their place in the world, but that doesn’t give then to right to obliterate someone else to do it.
-Help them to understand that no one should achieve success at the expense of their fellow humans.
Respect. Kindness. Friendship. Good manners.
Not old-fashioned, but in fashion.
Or, at least, they should be!
We humans need to talk to each other and cooperate.
We are, after all, a social species.
So hug your children and spend time with them. Teach them to be human.
The world will thank you.