What do I mean by taking it out on the kids? I grew up in an era where kids were somewhat sheltered. My mom and dad let us be innocent and naive. I guess they figured we had time enough to be worldly and disenchanted. The world is changing. Now it seems parents not only share their struggles with the kids, they think their kids should suffer right along with them. Are you taking this changing world out on the kids?
The world is a violent place. Some say it’s different. Some say it always has been. Turn on the television. Something about the way the world is depicted has definitely changed. Do you expose your child to violence in the media? Do you believe this will prepare them for the world of today? Why not let them be blissfully unaware, at least for now? Don’t take the worlds problems out on your kids. Giving them a carefree childhood just might help them through a worry filled adulthood.
You may have a rough life. That’s no reason to share it with your kids. It’s OK to admit you’re having a hard time. Just don’t dump all your troubles on your kids shoulders. It’s not right to expect them to understand adult struggles. It’s not right to burden them with issues they have no control over. Your children are not psychiatrists. They are not here to solve your problems. You are here to help them with theirs. Are you taking your struggles out on the kids? You’re the grown up. Act like it. Let them be the kids.
Kids today grow up fast enough. Are you taking it out on the kids by making it even faster? Do you do your best to protect your child’s innocence? Do you monitor your child’s TV programs and video gaming? Some parents have a defeatist attitude. You might hear them say things like, “That’s just the way it is now”. Well, that’s the way it is because it meets no resistance. Defend your child’s innocence. Don’t take the changing world out on the kids by being less diligent.
Are you going with the flow or playing dead? There’s a thin line between facing the truth and ignoring it. Are you taking it out on the kids by accepting bad behavior as a sign of the times? Wrong is wrong no matter what era you live in. It’s not OK to let your kids disrespect authority, use questionable language, or engage in dangerous habits. Say no to things you disapprove of. So what if it’s the latest trend? Don’t be afraid to oppose something just because it seems like the societal norm. If you do, it soon will be.
Do you teach by example? Don’t take it out on the kids if they mirror your bad habits. They learned from the best. I know my parents had their share of faults before they had children. So did I. That all stopped the day we became parents. Do as I say not as I do doesn’t fly as a parenting technique. You get what you give. Don’t expect more from your kids than you expect from yourself. If you do, you’ll be waiting a long time.
What legacy do you leave your kids? Will they remember you as kind and loving, but firm? Do you discipline out of anger or love? Don’t take your frustration out on your kids. Parenting is not a competition between you and your child. It’s your job to raise a well adjusted person. It’s not your job to scare them straight. Provide your child with the loving guidance they need to face a changing world. What’s more, protect the earth to protect your child’s future. Create a world worth living in. It’s the right thing to do.
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