Nestor's Cola

I’ve recently been getting involved in a lot of discussions and arguements about something i’ve yet to really experience for myself. yet, rather than defend my stance (which, again, is based purely on theory, logic, and supposition, rather than on experience) I’ve in fact been promoting my stance as aggressively as if i knew that I was in the right.

In other words, I sell ice to eskimos.

The topic: Parenting.

I’m no parent. I was denied that opportunity in the past. But I have a strong position on what I think parenting should be. Now, far be it from me to tell others how to do their jobs (of course, I will anyway) and please, don’t think of me as someone pointing out flaws (because I probably am) and whatever you do, don’t assume that I’m right. Even though I believe I am.

Some parents take a hands-on approach, and guide their children through every twist and turn that life throws at them. These kind of people I view as the kind of people that give bikes at 8, cars at sixteen, and college tuition at 19. The other side of the coin, I associate with… well, poor white trash, where parents adopt a more… “laissez-faire, laissez-passer,” approach. (It’s a French phrase meaning idiomatically “leave to do, leave to pass” or more accurately “let things alone, let them pass”. I view it as pretty much “Hands off”) where children are literally free to do whatever they want.

When i was in eighth grade, my teacher told us that it’s been statistically proven that each generation is successively more intelligent than it’s predecessor. So, I believe that this is something of a principle. Allow me to explain.

I think it’s a parent’s job to engender growth and independence within their children. If these children will come after us, and surpass us, then it would behoove us to create within them the ability to 1. make their own decisions, and 2. understand the ramifications of said decisions. The idea that we should coddle them sickens me as much as the thought of neglecting them. So, instead, I decide that children need a firm, guiding hand to a point. where each decision they come to is one that we’ve cultivated, yet they arrive to on their own. create an environment where positive things will grow, and then allow them to flourish.

I believe that children need to think for themselves, and believe that they have a hand in their own growth and development. where parental influence begins and ends is a later discussion point. But, more simply: Give them the tools for which to build for themselves. Educate them on proper decision making, and foster within them a need to understand consequences; if nothing else provide for them a means to understand the impact of their decisions. And then allow them to build their own lives; carve their own path in this jungle.

Am I wrong?

Good night.

Nestor Dissertation, Imported piece, Quick Post, Rant, Sociology

It occurred to me that the kids I see around, have certainly got it a hell of a lot better than I did when i was their age. All cliches aside, and the fact that I come from a completely different socio-economic background, they’re fucking lucky.

computers were a hell of lot more expensive then they are now. You can build a fairly decent computer for around $1100 and be proud of yourself. back then, an Apple IIe ran for something like $3000-7000. You actually went outside. you rode bikes, you played with matchbox cars, you fucking did shit out and about. I can remember when the NES came out, it was like rats deserting sinking ships, there wasn’t a single person that had one (excepting myself), and wasn’t inside, playing it to their hearts’ content.

These kids balk at the slightest task. Fuck that. I ran errands. I went for bread, for a gallon of milk, I went down the block to borrow x, I went everywhere, and did shit. You ask a kid to do a favor for you, and you’re more likely to get the finger than anything else. When I was a kid, you gave an adult the finger, they were likely to drag you, kicking and screaming, to your parent(s) where you got the thrashing of your life. with, or without the offending adult watching.

kids today don’t know how to read. I don’t mean reading for projects, or for book reports, or dumb fuck shit like that; I mean read. like, sit down with a 400 page plus book and read for fun. If it doesn’t come from a console or a monitor, they don’t know what the fuck it is. Glued to the fucking TV, controller, keyboard. I was hanging out outside today, and there was a bunch of kids milling listlessly outside. Here’s the punchline: I had to teach them how to play tag. how fucking stupid is that?

Today’s kids are lazy, weak, and soft.

Nestor Dissertation, Imported piece, Quick Post, Rant, Sociology