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Should parents set their children up for life, or empower them to be more independent?
This recently came to mind as I recalled how many 'new' Australians worked incredibly hard in order to educate their children. They knew education would be a key to survival in this new homeland but it didn't stop there.
They also bought their first car, first home, paid for huge weddings bringing family from their home country (Italian and Greek immediately come to mind). One daughter a solicitor complained to mummy, a cleaner, that the house wasn't big enough or in the right suburb. Mummy kept working to buy the right house ...
Others teach their kids right from wrong and often don't have the finances or diligence of these new migrants to pay for everything.
We each grow up differently according to our environment and expectations.
How did you grow up? Please share your story of what happened for you and the generation before and after you? Are there any lessons here?
Closing Statement from Kate Blake
The words that arose were guidance, education, empowering - a "Balance" of the above.
Much thanks for your participation and to TED for the forum!
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Mark Kurtz 10+
Your question brings to mind the word "balance". A mind of perfect poise will get through life much better with less risk of imbalance. If a child receives a balanced training foundation, it will think better, be more confident, be balanced and confident relating to others, and have a sense of worth and value. Such a balanced concept cannot be found in overemphasis for anything, including self worth.
If a child gets everything handed to them without their efforts to gain an understanding of value, then what value can a child learn observing others? Reward without work is a recipe for imbalance.
If parents observe children making an effort to understand, to gain experience, and to relate well to others, then surely the child deserves assistance because they will appreciate and respect the aid. What respect can we expect from children who are lazy or who do not appreciate what is given?
Set their children up for life? What does that mean to you? Does this mean all the material things one needs without them working for them? I 'd say setting up a special child who needs institution care, who cannot provide for self, is a good service concept for the child.
Everyone else should gain experience and earn what he gets. Rights are not automatic, but actually privileges granted by higher authority! Could you agree on this point?
Best regards.