You’re not only responsible for your child now, but also the adult they’re growing up into.

If you have or plan to have a child, let me remind you that this kiddo will grow up one day (hopefully). On the day they turn 18, they’re supposed to be capable, both physically and mentally, to function WITHOUT YOU. Whether they will be able to function as an independent adult or not is largely up to you.

Many people, when they have a child, see only a baby. A cuddly toy they get to play with and enjoy. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as you remember that for this kid, being a child is not the main thing of their life. They WANT TO grow up and be AN ADULT. Very few people want to stay a child forever. Being a child sucks in many, many ways. Being an adult sucks, too, but at least you’ve control over how much it will suck. For an independently-minded old soul child, childhood is somewhat of a mild jail sentence.

Children may grow up way too fast from your perspective, but that kid can’t wait for it. And you’d better help them BE PREPARED for it as fast as possible, preferably faster than what they want to cross it… Within reason, of course.

And here’s another thing: Shielding them from all things adults is a certain way to make them UTTERLY unprepared for adult life when the time comes. You don’t start raising them for adult life once they hit 18; you start when they hit the ground. But don’t be stupid enough to do it with a stick. You know better than that. Yelling, screaming, and beating children up is just a loud display of “parenting” when, deep down, you know parents like that just want to fuck that kid up for good… Perhaps over something that kid did to the parent in a previous life, one hopes.

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