Contrary to this philosophy, stress is related to almost everything that we need to do in order to be human. From the first day of school, to the first day at a first job, to new relationships, everything involves stress; how we interpret that stress is part of what forms our character.
These subjects – along with others regarding the challenges of being either a child or parent today — came up during a conversation that I had with two local police officers early last year. We discussed how school-age children are now living in a time when normal behavior not only has to be second-guessed, but there is also a push to limit – and possibly eliminate — any activities that require responsibility.
We also talked how parents’ responsibilities in raising their own children, from teaching them to read before they attend school, to the contents of a homemade lunch, are now being second-guessed by unaccountable “professionals” who embrace a one-size-fits-all mentality.
Yes, there are parents with non-existent parenting skills, but the subject of irresponsible guardians needs examination as well.
While listening to WTMJ AM talk show host Jeff Wagner several years ago, a retired Sailor from the US Navy called in to share some observations about guided tours of aircraft carriers that he had given to high school classes. This caller stated that the students were not only interested in learning about the operations on those vessels, but they paid extra attention during the safety briefings.
Some of the teachers, he said, tended to drift in the opposite direction; he stated that he had a difficult time not only keeping their attention, but they didn’t seem to care about the importance of those safety briefings. He finished his call by saying that young adults will handle responsibility – if it is given to them.
I feel bad for everyone who is trying to grow up today, since their new stress-free world is everything but that. I have to wonder: if this zero-discretion mentality were around in my youth, would my parents have been accused of abuse in the ER? They did give me faulty DNA which caused the need for my appendectomy — allegedly.
