In general despite constant press and political negativity – this is the best time in the history of humanity to grow up.
People across the planet are better fed, better educated, live longer and have more career opportunities than ever before. There are issues – of course – and always will be.
Children have always been dumped on by insecure adults and those with causes who seek to lay blame. Children are also seen to be an easy market for gaming, social media and information technology entrepreneurs. Children get neglected by family members who work too many hours, drink too much and simply don’t know how to make time.
In our beautiful and very rich country we are always one generation away from many solutions and a great deal of progress. It is time for the current adults to stand up and restore the ideals of childhood for our wonderful children. This involves massive self-sacrifice, giving time, and setting boundaries building fences at the top of cliffs through genuine love and knowledgeable care.
It also involves a constant combined push to improve home education and schooling – and to get children fully involved every day.
Our young people have massive road blocks in their path – addiction to their phones and social media, decreased time from parents and significant others, schools/teachers who are not dealing well with social problems (despite massive funding), and a society that has forgotten that a search for faith and meaning is a huge and necessary part of growing up on our planet.
It is time for the adults of NZ to stand up. Firstly – to stop doing harm to our young people in any way shape or form. Allow them to be kids. Let them explore life, faith, and their place in the world. Set boundaries and have the strength to keep them from addictions and overuse of modern media. And don’t withhold any good – spend time with young people, take them to parks, throw balls and frisbees, have meals at the table, catch fish, read to them, listen to them deeply when they need to talk.
I once read a beautiful statement in the Baseball bestseller Moneyball when a most unlikely athlete hit is first MLB homerun: “Surrounded by people who keep telling him he’s capable of almost anything, he’s coming to believe it himself.”
Surround the young people near you in belief.
Image credit: Eduardo Balderas
Republished from the author’s Substack with permission.
If the author wants all of this to happen, then get rid of CYFS / Oranga Tamariki which is ready to pounce on free-range families for engaging in normal activities that are now considered to be ‘antiquated’ (ie tree-climbing, bush explorations, etc. ) and who are Home-schoolers!
Ah, yes…riding bikes without goofy-looking styrofoam helmets, shooting BB guns / Air Rifles / .22 Rifles & Pistols, Shotguns, driving go-carts on public roads, driving supervised without a learners / restricted drivers licence at age 12, no ‘Social Media’, boating at age 10, not dealing with surveillance, ‘Social Credit’, etc.