I‘m not a parent. However, I have observed several families during the years. When I see parents let their children go outside, I cringe. I am appalled when children get to eat ice cream before dinner. Who would ever tell their children the truth about things? They should be kept in a little bubble until it is their time to break out of it. Then, when they finally break out, they will be overall happy and healthy citizens. Right? Wrong. 

I believe parents should let their children see the world for what it is because eventually they will. I’m not saying you should let your three-year-old watch porn instead of the usual Barney DVD while you are making dinner, but don’t put your children in a bubble because when they get out they are going to be unfit to take on the world. 

It bothers me when parents don’t let their children watch TV or listen to music other than Kids Bop or set early curfews for their teens. I feel as though these parents are shooting themselves in the foot because yeah, right now they are obedient but once they get in the real world they will be lusting for the activities they were denied of. 

To me, things such as Kids Bop are dumb. My parents never bought me them, and I never wanted them. God forbid they listen to the real music and hear a couple of profane words. Who cares? If you make those types of things into a big deal, so will they. If they hear it, they will hear it eventually, but if you don’t make a huge deal out of them hearing it, they won’t want to say it. They will just think it’s another word. Tell them they probably shouldn’t use those words in public because they are rude or obnoxious but not just “because.”

If you talk to your children like adults, they will act like adults. Fairness should be key component in a family dynamic. All parents look forward to using the magic words “because I said so,” but I don’t think they are that magical. Sometimes that is not enough and realistic reasoning will work better than that reason. I think that translates into the real world as well because if they were told “because I said so” their whole lives then they will always just settle for what their superiors tell them is right. Our society is becoming more and more innovative, and that mindset is simply not going to cut it.

I know too many kids who go crazy at college because their parents wouldn’t let them do anything when they lived at home. They were forbidden from so many things living at home that they want to do and try everything when they have the opportunity. If those things denied from them were available to them in moderation when they were living with their guardian, then chances are they wouldn’t need to try those activities when they were out of the house. They would engage in the activities in moderation or maybe not at all. 

So, keep your kids inside and don’t let them see the world — if you want them to be dependent and immature, that is.