The horror can not be unseen

Unless this guy is a time traveller that went back to scare himself as a kid, as a warning to take better care of his body, … which I admit is pretty unlikely…   Someone should have sicced hordes of riot police on him, by means of damage & trauma control.

Raising Generation Y

Mind you, our kids are great.  Hearts of gold, they do well enough in school, or at sports, they’re creative … the works.   But if it weren’t for us, they would be permanently stuck to some screen or another, from TV, PC, game-computer, …    They wouldn’t ever eat a hearty meal, and would steer waaay clear from vitamins.    Books would be a curiosity that belonged in the museum, along with alarm clocks.  And the sole purpose of electric toothbrushes would be to serve as assault weapons in bathroom ambush attacks.   Every light in the house would be turned on for ever, along with most of the major appliances.  Water would gush down the stairs like an indoor waterfall, creating a habitat that at some point would be attracting salmons, and the bears that hunt them.   And the real meaning of the word ‘OK’ would be ‘screw it, no way I’m doing that chore’.

The notion of a balanced life – with some physical exercise to match the hours spent physically inactive.  And some learning, or practicing skills as a counterweight to mindless fun.  And some effort in order to be able to really appreciate relaxation – doesn’t take root overnight.   In fact the repetition, the motivation, the stimulation and the coercion involved, borders on indoctrination.  But I guess that’s parenting. 

We weren’t any different back then, and they won’t be either, once  “Their lawless years are behind them. Their child-rearing years lay ahead…”

I read up on ‘positive parenting’.  Aiming at constructive behavioural changes, with less conflict.  Boiling down to encouraging good behaviour, rather than criticising dysfunctional or less acceptable behaviour.    I really try.  I totally understand the purpose, and I support the idea.  But it’s simply not always relevant or applicable.  So I also often fall back on the “what the hell are you doing, dumb-ass” approach that Red has in That 70′s show.   It’s gets the point across more quickly that some activities are to be terminated immediately and should not be repeated.