Is It Really That Bad to Let Our Kids Do ‘Big Things’?
Just as one thirteen-year-old sets out to scale Mount Everest and another prepares to sail around the globe, one columnist at the London Times questions whether letting kids do ‘big things’ like this is actually the height of “parental indulgence” and neglect:
It does not seem intrusive to wonder about the Romeros’ and Dekkers’ exact understanding of the notion of parental responsibility. Moreover, we would point out that being young is not, in itself, an achievement.
Not to give the London Times the short shrift, but it is just unfathomable to me that someone could claim this point of view. How is having faith in kids and trusting in their capacities really some grievous form of parental irresponsibility? Nonetheless, the Times’ columnist apparently does honestly believe this, and very much defends it (in the most bitter and snarky of manners, if I might say). Unfortunately she’s not alone: you can also behold a whole raft of complaints in the column’s comments about the clearly “tantamount” physical risk and psychological harm these high-achieving children are surely now burdened by.
It all just leaves me puzzled and saddened, and ultimately left to question: Why are we so begrudging our children that sense of the awesome wonder and achievement possible in life? What do we actually do to them when we say that their dreams are too dangerous, too unrealistic, or even plain impossible? How can it be a bad thing to believe in them, and know along with them that anything is possible? I can’t help but believe that everyone needs a little adventure – most especially, I would say, kids. Going out bravely into the fog to meet the unknown head-on and tame it… why, that’s the very essence of what growing up is about.