"..We're a happy family."
From the "good book" to a purple dinosaur, we teach our children to love and respect our fellow inhabitants of Earth (heck, even extending a hand to ET). However, at some point that goes away. Don't believe me? Let's look at what we're allowing to happen in our US government. Let's look at how we regard that homeless person as we drive by. How many times have you served at a soup kitchen? Or literally given the shirt off your back to someone? When was the last time you asked someone how they're doing and really cared about their answer? Have you given a hug today? Was that hug to a human or animal or some other sentient being?
Admittedly, I haven't done all those things. I'm not a saint, nor will I ever claim to be. I'm human and I mess up. I've been known to be a hypocrite, at times, though I REALLY try not to. One of my heartfelt wishes is to be a Care Bear, but some people just really, really, truly bother me (no amount of "staring" will help some people). From my lineage, upbringing, and even after years of therapy, I have "the Irish temper". I am a fallible human.
Did you cringe at any of my honest statements? It's ok if you did. I don't blame you. It's part of our programming.
At some point in our lives we stop seeing the cup half full. We may even stop caring whether the cup is full or not because, well darn it, thirst calls.
Every school that I've been in and the schools that my children are enrolled in all strive for inclusion, acceptance, and understanding. Parents clamor for "no bully tolerance" and school faculty make sure everyone is playing nice. Then, somewhere around high school, things change. What was once a loving, forgiving place, now turns into the Twilight Zone. Jobs are gained by one-upmanship and [possibly] lying; it becomes an acceptable dog-eat-dog world. Once you become "an adult," the gloves come off.
I don't know about you, but that bothers me. Why do we ask from our children what we don't do ourselves? How can we make rules about "how the world works" and then change them 180? No wonder high schoolers are confused, beyond their normal age-appropriate confusion! What type of society are we truly constructing? Who are we going to blame for the state of our current social issues? But, most importantly - What are we going to do about it?
For me, at this moment, I'm going to continue to let my kids rock out to Jim Henson puppets and other "goody two-shoes" programming, let them imagine and dream, encourage them to be any occupation of their choosing, instill manners, teach the concept of consequence, and cuddle them (at least once) everyday. I don't know what next week brings, but today I will honestly ask them how they feel and listen to what they have to say; I don't have to agree, nor make them feel an emotion of my choosing. They are unique and wonderful little people who deserve a world where they can grow up and still get an honest cuddle for just being; because I know I like cuddles too.
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