this post was submitted on 29 Feb 2024
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Showerthoughts
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When I was a kid I was always praised for being mature beyond my age.
Really what I was, was beaten down, defeated, paranoid … and therefore quiet and non-aggressive.
If a kid’s “maturity” consists of being quieter than the other kids, or perhaps of seeking out the company of adults rather than other kids, it’s possible that’s not maturity but rather a mask he’s wearing to avoid being attacked.
That mirrors my own childhood as well. It's actually things like like standing up when I wouldn't have expected it. As an example, I've overheard my preteen chastising her friends for talking about someone behind their back. Another example is our 2nd grader bringing home an assignment the other day where she was supposed to write what she wanted to be when she grew up, and her answer was "kind."
Like holy shit kid... they're both miles ahead of where I was at their ages around topics of justice and the skills it takes to maintain social cohesion, and they're so much braver than I was and willing to use their social capital to stick up for people that can't themselves. Then they'll come home and get in a fight with each other over a spot on the couch or something insignificant like that.
That’s awesome! I wish half the adults around me would chastise people for talking behind someone’s back. It’s like people forgot gossip is toxic.
Ugh… that explains me, so I’m hoping that my kid stays an immature, frustrating, loud, undefeated and happy child for a long time yet.
Kids are supposed to be selfish assholes. They’re supposed to push boundaries and test people, and fight with other kids and learn respect the hard way (which is a lot easier kid v kid than it is adult v adult).
That’s the correct time and place to get that all out of one’s system: childhood.