As we grow up from being parented and parenting, we realize many changes and our view about child growth changes automatically. This is also influenced by the fact that with each changing generation, some things become less practical and hence leaving us with the option of conforming with the trend. As we grew up in the hands of our parents, we realized some weaknesses and strengths in the way through they brought us up. We are in fact tempted to dictate to our parents on how they should have brought us up to make us the kind of people we desired to be. However, we realize that the past cannot be reversed and hence leaving us with the option of applying certain rules to our children and leaving others.
When we were children for instance, our parents dictated everything from the schools we should go to, the subjects and courses we should pursue, the kind of friends to interact with, the kind of clothes to wear, to mention but a few. We had no say even if we saw other parents treating other children differently. This was mainly because parents made decisions based on their capabilities, social standing in the society and what they believed was best for the children. It was also easy to make such decisions because the future was somewhat predictable compared to what we currently have (Clifford 123). For instance, it was easy for a parent to advocate for a certain subject and course because it had not been exploited much and that there were potentials. This was also because they were sure of the resources they had and the institutions that could offer them.
Those were the years when there was no much travel and socialization was limited to a particular group and community. It is not like this age of globalization and technology where there is no limit to what a person can achieve. The digital age has left us with numerous options, which is just a matter of desire and interest that will keep a person going. Money has remained to be a driving force behind every decision that a parent makes for or on behalf of their children. It is however realized that a path that is not birthed with interest can only lead to frustrations, as one feels less satisfied. After grow ups suffered from what they term as wrong decisions that were made for them by their parents, they do not wish the same for their children and hence granting them the free will. On the contrary, some grow ups also suffer from decisions that were not taken on their behalf by their parents and hence not taking any chances with their children.
The ability to make certain decisions for your children majorly depends on how one was brought up and how the decisions worked for them. For instance, a parent who grew up in an environment where the rules worked well for them will also set similar rules for their children. Even though the rules may not be the same, there could be certain restrictions just to protect the children from being exposed to certain values. For instance, parents nowadays may not restrict children on the kind of people they interact (Vaswani 64). This is because interaction has become the basis through which people share ideas and form strong networks. With the caching world order, a parent may never know whether they are limiting the ability of a child to develop his/her interests by setting certain rules. Holding on a child so much has proved to be disastrous and hence choosing to set them free but giving them the necessary advice and guidelines.
Realizing that a growing child and more especially in this age and time has different expectations that I may not be able to fathom enables me to give them a chance. Even though they go through similar stages that I underwent when I was young, their perspective to life is influences with different factors from what I was influenced with. For instance, I grew up knowing that I will serve my community and the most my nation. As I grow however, I realize that the responsibility is not just for the community or nation but the whole world. This hence required my children to be well equipped to face a bigger population compared to what I face. In fact, in the current society, rules do not work as they limit the ability of the child to explore the world. It is a high time that parents in the current world accepts that children get information from various sources and it is only by being lenient on them that you are able to effectively monitor them (Calhoun 82). The do’s and don’ts that our parent set for us remained a loophole where we desired to explore more on the don’ts. They do this in secrete and before a parent knows it, the child did just contrary to what they were told. Setting children free makes them trust their parents as they remain open minded concerning various issues and even sharing them with their parents.
Works cited
Calhoun, Ada. Instinctive Parenting: Trusting Ourselves to Raise Good Kids. California: Simon and Schuster, 2010.
Clifford-Poston, Andrea. The Secrets of Successful Parenting. New York: How To Books Ltd, 2001
Vaswani, J. P. Good Parenting: How to Make Sure That Your Child Grows Up Right. London: Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd, 2007.
