(no subject)

[jackofallgeeks]

I used to think that the most frightening things in the world were concepts like Death, Eternity, and Being Utterly Alone. Those things are frightening, yes, but not quite so bone-chillingly terrifying as the mother who said this of her toddler:

"He is his own person. If I tell him to stop, and he chooses not too, that is his choice. Who am I to force my will upon him?"

I'm going to have nightmares for a week.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

You should have seen the LJ of a woman who hit her child onto the floor, which cause his lip to split open... and then let it get badly infected. Or the couple in Kmart, years ago, who had beat their little 2 year old little girl until her entire face was either black or blue, completely with lumps. THAT haunts me.

I think in general that parents of today are not good parents. I have babysat more times than I can count (for free) ... and the children I have come across are just not very nice. They are spoiled, the are ungrateful... and they are for the most part largely uncaring. It's scary. And if the child isn't spoiled, chances are they are neglected or abused. That is ... everyday life, here in Northern California.

Actually, everyday life is knowing that they bus in child molesters and rapists.... to MY CITY ... to live. They bus them here and so these potentially dangerous people are everywhere in the small community. Yet, I see tiny children out wandering the streets with no adult or teenager anywhere near them.

Most parents don't realize that children... children are not adults. Toddlers NEED structure and rules. They need to be taught that certain things are good and certain things are not. By saying the above quoted... that person is giving up what little ability they have to try and teach their child to be a good person.

These things scare me... almost to the point where I'd really reconsider having children. Because I wouldn't want to make those kinds of mistakes. I'd want to be able to do the best possible job and raise them to be kind, open-minded individuals who faught for what was right. I think maybe this is harder than most people realize.

Ahh, one more reason why I love my mother. She was - IS - an awesome example of the sort of parent I would love for myself to be, when/if I ever have the chance to be a mother.

-Mel

[sugarpoisonappl.livejournal.com]

it's important to keep in mind the things that make some people bad parents ... bt=ut rather than not have children because of it, when you would otherwise have wanted to ... wouldn't it be better to have children, and give them a good home, and lots of love, and show them the right way? and then, instead of just avoiding making mistakes by never trying, you can raise children who will know the things that you grew up knowing because of your mother.

for my part, i sometimes fear that i'm not doing a good job with my daughter ... but i'm doing the best i can. and i know that i must not be doing a poor job of it, because every time she smiles at me i know how much she loves me. that's how i know i'm a good parent. ^_^ we shower her with love, gently teach her what "no" means (she's only 13 months old but she gts some of it), and we're going to do our best to give her the best life we possibly can.