Children are precious, literally the bridge to the future. How that destiny plays out hinges to a great extent on How they view such a world. It gives one pause to wonder what becomes of utmost importance in preparing them for such an endeavor?
Safety seems to be the "prime directive" when it comes to parenting in the age of the new millennium. And while children are physically safer due to carseats and bike helmets, they've become more fearful and apprehensive than in previous generations. It raises the question as to whether the world is truly worse, or only seems so due to the manner in which children are presented with such things.
No era in history is lacking in its share of atrocities. During the ravages of wartime and other brutalities, efforts made in helping children to feel safe were customary. Unfortunately, this no longer seems to hold true, having been replaced instead by the theory that children must be made keenly aware of such inhumanity. Two very differing schools of thought.
Academy award winning "La vita è bella", ("Life is Beautiful") gained appreciation around the world, encapsulating the extent of one man's efforts and unique insight into ensuring that his young son would not be inundated with the qualities of fear and hatred, despite the fact of their living within a Nazi death camp.
Although foreign, and admittedly fiction, the sentiment and conviction are unparalleled. Rather than dwelling on the peril and doom awaiting them, his sole purpose turned to that of making sure that his son's future was well provided for. Interesting to note, this did not include money, possessions, or even of escape. Rather, instilling assurances that his son's life be one devoid of fear, anger, and bitterness.
Children are not simply "little adults". They cannot process complex issues, nor should they be expected to. Ultimately we each Have a hand in shaping what their future might hold. A generation brought up without the negative attributes of fear, anger, and bitterness will undoubtedly have an edge over the alternative.
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