PARENTS SHOULD INSPIRE THEIR CHILD'S DREAMS AND GOALS

PARENTS SHOULD INSPIRE THEIR CHILD’S DREAMS AND GOALS

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD. Traditional Realist

The world has changed, families are smaller, many have only one child. Our economy is the highest or one of the highest in the world according to the variables used to determine it. Even families on the bottom of the socio economic ladder are recipients of significant government assistance that allows them a lifestyle, which is the envy of the developing nations. Our nation is living above its means and eventually will have an economic correction.

Most modern parents do not significantly emphasize that they worked hard to obtain their lifestyle. Instead they communicate in politically correct, high false-self- esteem jargon that their children will be better off than they are. These parents believe since their children are very bright their future is definitely going to be as good or better than their parents. This sentiment is very common even when the child is not doing well in school, does not listen well and has little work ethic.

Modern parents have not personally witnessed significant national financial setbacks. The “Great Recession” was cushioned with approximately one trillion dollars in stimulus-inflated money. The Middle East wars have had little direct impact on most American family life. It is understandable that the average modern parent thinks they will have the political influence and financial power to shelter their children from any negative setbacks that may occur. If history is any indicator, they are going to be sadly mistaken.

This thinking pattern leaves too many adults and their unfortunate offspring in a delusionary state. If people’s future is insured by their present lifestyle, they will have little motivation to prepare or be concerned with what is coming down the road. They can choose to live in the moment without concern about events happening elsewhere in the world or to teach their child necessary skills and moral values to survive and prosper on their own.

Too many American children are hibernating in the safety of their family cocoon. As students there is no fear of what tomorrow could bring to their existence. Studying challenging subjects to give them more options and getting into and succeeding in graduate pursuits is immaterial to them. Their protective helicopter parents in incident after incident have bailed out most of these students in school and in the community.

The parent’s power and influence might help their child get out of trouble in school and with police officials, graduate from high school, get into college and even get them a job in a business. The problem is, does the youngster have the skills, knowledge and perseverance to function in the real world? Does the individual have the strength of character to struggle through hard times and come out a winner on the other side of the adversity. Mental toughness develops through striving, failing and finally succeeding.

This lack of concern for their own future leaves youngsters vulnerable to immense psychological, financial and emotional suffering. Since they have no fallback plan they most likely demand the government take over more responsibility for their personal lifestyle. These slackers and takers will move from making demands on parents to making demands on other citizen’s money through local, state and federal tax confiscation.

They will become a major force for an increased welfare state. We are already witnessing this with the self-serving programs they want the government to provide for them such as free college tuition, and medical care. If these self-centered young adults do not face some real consequences to their self-indulgent life style, the problem will expand into many other areas.

This generation and future generations have to comprehend- nothing is guaranteed. The reality is that living in the USA requires that citizens be self reliant for their own advancement. We as a nation have to make this clear.

No parent can purchase this “will power” for his children. The youngsters have to earn it through their own effort. These individuals have to want to better themselves and their future. They have to possess goals and dreams that inspire them to do more, not less than what their parents did. There is no substitute for setting standards and expectations high, to reach for the best one can be. Parents noting the improvement in the effort and especially in the results should encourage this. The child should be taught to compete against himself.

For our citizens, families and nation to prosper we have to teach the work ethic and self-reliance to our children. All citizens should be motivated to make their future as bright as they can.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio is an author of weekly newspaper articles, INVASION WITHIN and a new just published book, entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.