I don't think I am alone in this line of thinking, but is it just me or does it seem that we are more honest and open with our children now than our parents were with us when we were kids? I believe that to be true. What do you think? Is that a good thing or bad thing?
Here is why I believe we are more open. I believe my daughter knows A LOT more at this age than when I was her age. I believe she knows more about every day life, people's struggles, God, body awareness, sex and death. WOAH now those are some major topics, and she is 10!
Do I think it is a good thing? I do.
Let me pick one of the topics...Death. Maybe I was just blessed as a child, but I think the only person close to me that died when I was a child was my Paternal Grandfather and I was only 2. Until I was in my late teens I never experienced the death of a friend or family member. If my parents experienced either, I sure did not hear about it. Still to this day I am TERRIFIED of death. I just am. I am a Christian and a true believer, but lets face it....I like it here. I don't want to go anywhere any time soon because this life thing really can be fun a lot of the time, and I have two really cute and amazing kids.
Over the past 3 years I have had a few friends die and I have been open to my children about their deaths. They see me cry for them and I feel they have a right to know why I am crying. Labor Day morning the most courageous, positive, and inspirational man I have ever met died at the age of 40 of a brain tumor. He has an AMAZING wife and two young children. We have had open discussions about his illness, have attended fundraisers where he was present, and played with his children. I have had to answer very delicate questions from my children about his tumor, why he was unable to see, why he was swollen, if he is going to die, what will happen to him after he dies, and what will happen with his children. To my surprise, and it really shouldn't be, I was more afraid to discuss the issues than they were.
Why do we all do that? We never give kids enough credit. They can take so much more than we think they can. If we stick to the tried and true philosophy of "answer only what they ask" we can save ourselves a whole lot of panic and fear as parents. They really can handle it...it is us that can not handle it.
What do you think?
Photo Credit © Bobby Deal | Dreamstime.com
Leave a comment