Disadvantages?

Sometimes I think I am raising my children to be at a disadvantage in this world. I have a competitive streak, so I'd really like them to do well, to succeed, indeed--to excel--in many different areas. God is still really working on me, and too often, my old self wants to rear her ugly head and get priorities out of whack.

I look around at the world and see that it's a 'dog-eat-dog' society we live in. Everyone is in a scramble to the top, no holds barred, look out for number one. An increasingly socialistic mindset demands that everyone be equal. All should receive the same pay, for example, regardless of risk, skill, or education. There should be no difference between white collar and blue collar, management and labor force, or new employees and seasoned. People whine about fairness now, and when this generation enters adulthood, it's going to be even worse.

I tend to watch people, and listen to things that are said. When discussions about parenting come up, I get more and more quiet. I hear absurd things like "I want to be my child's friend" (he is TWO) and "I don't want to have to tell him no." I observe that the children who are most likely to hit others are the ones whose parents proudly claim they don't 'hit' their children. I highly doubt I or my siblings ever hit our parents--we knew better! And it wasn't because we were 'hit', it's because we knew a healthy respect for discipline for obedience. Not one of my four children has hit me. They might have tried, and I caught their arm and firmly told them 'no' and they decided it wouldn't be a good idea. Boundaries, structure, and expectation are GOOD things--not bad things. They are selfish just like anyone else, don't get me wrong, but I am not afraid to be the parent and say 'no' or spank them for disobedience. I'm not their friend--I'm their parent.

I took Easton to the dentist yesterday (he bumped his tooth on the merry-go-round and it has a dead nerve) and was embarrassed for our society at the reaction we received. They treated him like he was a bomb about to go off. That seriously is how I would describe it. They wanted to cater to him and cajole him about everything. I finally looked at the hygienist and said "He's a big boy. He knows how to obey," and I told him to get in the chair (which he did). She showed him the tools, the light, how the chair moved, etc. and he followed her instructions, was fascinated, and asked questions. Then she started it again--thinking she needed to bribe him to open his mouth (you have got to be kidding me!). The next step was (in a doubting and halting voice) "I'm going to show him the x-ray and we'll see if he'll let us take a picture of his tooth." Of course he'll 'let' you take a picture of his tooth! That's why we're here!!!

I was getting frustrated until it occurred to me that this is the type of adults our society is producing. People who have to be bribed, cajoled and catered to in order to do any little thing. People who will pitch an absolute screaming fit if they have to do something they don't want to do. People who whine and tattle and complain until they get their way or what someone else has that they want. People who fully believe the 'squeaky wheel gets the grease'.

The dentist and hygienist adored him. They commented that he was well-behaved, inquisitive, and such a bright little boy. Easton climbed into the chair, opened his mouth for the examination, bit down on the cardboard and held still for the x-ray, then cheerfully walked out when time was up. No bombs went off. He thinks you do what you're supposed to do when you're told to do it. He thinks throwing a fit is going to get you something you *don't* want. He thinks you are supposed to obey and submit to the authorities God has placed over you.

Yep, he's in the minority and this life may be a little tough on him.