Somehow protecting our children has turned into overprotectiveness. I see it all the time. Your examples about the kid with the pacifier and the 9-year-old who can't cross the street by himself are examples. Protecting our children from external evil is a very good thing. Protecting them to the point where they can't deal with life, with its expectations and requirements is horrible--for them.
I think Sammy crossing the street, like he did, was a great thing. He's learning independence, and that's a necessary step to growing up and learning to take some care of himself. He has to do that to survive in the world. He took a step in a natural progression. That IS a good thing, IMO.
I don't know if you read my post a couple weeks ago about time spent in the woods. I was gone from home for hours and no one knew exactly where I was. I was perfectly fine, because I'd been taught to take care of myself. As I said there, my family knew I'd been taught to handle myself, and let me practice. It was part of the independence I have today, and that is invaluable.
I've taught parenting and getting people to see the balance is sometimes nigh on to impossible. I think some parents have much more instinct for this sort of thing, and others work contrary to how they were raised on purpose, thinking they've come up with a better way. I don't know. I think we used to do better.
I think Sammy crossing the street, like he did, was a great thing. He's learning independence, and that's a necessary step to growing up and learning to take some care of himself. He has to do that to survive in the world. He took a step in a natural progression. That IS a good thing, IMO.
I don't know if you read my post a couple weeks ago about time spent in the woods. I was gone from home for hours and no one knew exactly where I was. I was perfectly fine, because I'd been taught to take care of myself. As I said there, my family knew I'd been taught to handle myself, and let me practice. It was part of the independence I have today, and that is invaluable.
I've taught parenting and getting people to see the balance is sometimes nigh on to impossible. I think some parents have much more instinct for this sort of thing, and others work contrary to how they were raised on purpose, thinking they've come up with a better way. I don't know. I think we used to do better.
Just mulling this . . .
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