Journal #11: Childhood

The idea that childhood is a special time and that a child's innocence should be protected largely originated with the Victorians. Before that, children were sent to work in factories as soon as they were old enough, often working 10 hour days at the age of 7 or 8. Chimney Sweeps used to employ even younger children since they could be dangled from a rope and used to knock soot and highly carcinogenic coal dust out of chimneys. By the time these young people reached the ripe old age of 15 or 16 they were adults for all intents and purposes.


Now, as a society, we have reached a point where we try to insulate children from the more unpleasant and laborious aspects of life but we have also delayed adulthood for many. Some "children" (perhaps you know some?) continue to live in their parents' basements until their late twenties. What do you think? How much (and from what) should children be protected? How well are we handling this issue now as a society? What kind of childhood will you try to create for your own offspring? What expectations will you have? What are some of the most valuable experiences and lessons from your own childhood that you will try to pass on to the next generation?


First of all, I think it is crazy when there are people that are in their twenties not doing much with their lives and living off their parents. By that age they should be out in the world trying to create a life separate from the ones they had with their parents. They should be out getting jobs and making families of their own. They should not be still living with their parents. My cousin is twenty two years old and has graduated from home school but is still living in his parents basement. He does not have a job and all he does is party. He is a really smart kid and could be making something of himself but instead he is just living with his parents still and having everything handed to him. I think that his parents should sit him down and tell him that he need to get a job and start making a future for himself. I think people like him need to smarten up and start living independently making a future for themselves.
As little kids, our parents try and protect us from everything and to a certain degree that is their job. Our parents don't want us to get sick or fall off our bike and hurt ourselves. Parents who are having difficulties in their marriage also try to protect their children form seeing that. But when a child becomes an adult, the parent can no longer protect their child as much whether they like it or not. The child needs to face the world themselves. If the parents have taught their child well, then the parent should not be worried to realize their child into the world. But if the parent did not teach their child well then they should be worried about what might happen to their children.
When I have children, I am going to teach my children all they need to know in order to be successful in life. I am going to install the good morals and values that my mom installed in me. I am going to teach my child to have good manners and to know right from wrong. I will make sure that my child is never exposed to some of the horrible things I have been through. I don't want my child to have to live through the same horrible things that I have been through. But I will let my child know that life is hard and sometimes they will have to struggle. I will make sure that my child is strong, independent and is a leader. I want my child to know that they can do anything that they can put their mind to. I will do all that I can to make my child a good person. But once my child reaches a certain age I can only hope that they keep the morals and values that I install in them.
As far as expectations, I would just hope that my child reaches their potential and that they never just settle. I hope that they dream big and reach for the stars. I hope that they will grow up to be well-rounded individuals. I hope that they will always respect other people and be a nice person.