jaylar
Lily turned on the television to catch the news.
Her parents would eat dinner early, then watch the news. The news was all they watched, all Lily was allowed to watch.
As she came home shortly before the news came on her schedule was different, she would eat her dinner after watching.
In those childhood days, after the news she went to her room to do what homework she hadn’t completed then read ahead until 9:00 when it was lights out.
She would fall asleep, wake up early the next morning, shower, eat, dress and be on her way to school, often arriving early. She would sit on the benches outside, (weather permitting) and go over her school work.
If the weather was inclement, she would go into the cafeteria sitting far from the other students, focusing on her school work. She was at school to do her work, and today, was at work to work.
She had not attended school to make friends or have fun, she was there to learn. She was not at work to socialise she was there to do her work, and often took work home.
As a child, weekends had been reading, sometimes going out with her parents to museums or concerts. Weekends now were shopping, reading, sometimes going to a museum or concert.
The pattern her parents created when she was a child followed her to adulthood.
there is a sadness in those patterns. We as parents desire the pattern to benefit the child. sometimes it does little but limit.
Children need structure and patterns… but not to the stage of enslavement
it is a relative point I agree, but the line is very fine
The focus is to raise adults not children. To let them think for themselves and if they feel you are right, take your style. But Lily is a robot.
it is the greatest fear and the greatest joy when the child is ready to move on their own.
One day I’ll tell you about the Forty Eight year old infant bawling at Daddy’s funeral because who will take care of him now.
Forty eight, educated, capable no handicaps… save he expected Daddy to take care of him forever.
there are always reasons for people thinking things won’t change.