Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 30oC, hot, sunny and sticky.
The calm after the storm. After the confusion of the night before, in the morning, it was still. It felt like walking on eggshells.
Nalva went to work, and Yasmin went to school. They left together and returned together as planned. I was slightly worried because they only arrived at 5:00 pm, even though Yasmin usually leaves school midday.
I did not ask what had happened, but everyone was safe, so it was okay. We must sometimes break eggs to make an omelette; families are not perfect institutions. So, sometimes, or many times, we have to say what is wrong, the problem, or what is on our minds.
One important thing to mention is that we live in a plastic world today. Everyone and everything is expected to be politically correct, even when things are really bad, broken, and messed up. I am old school; I cannot pretend, or it is very difficult to do so. It is hard to ignore when something is wrong, while modern society’s hypocrisy tells us the opposite. We are expected to accept the ridiculous, look away from what is wrong, and pretend it is not there.
We are often pressured to accept things or situations that go against our principles, or those passed down to us by our parents. We know what is right and wrong, but if we question or criticise, we are labelled as villains or ignorant.
This “woke” culture that has permeated modern society is eroding the fundamental principles instilled in us by our parents. What was considered wrong or unacceptable in the past is now seen as right and acceptable.
I am not saying everything is entirely bad. Still, there are things today that, due to a lack of common sense in the argument, are completely and logically unacceptable to me and to many others. I believe the key phrase here is “common sense.” We now live in a society where common sense is not valued as it once was and is not seen as a vital part of our daily lives. No matter how academically or physically skilled we are, what is the point of having an education or a skill without basic common sense?
I feel frustrated and powerless when it comes to Yasmin. As a father, I see my once vibrant, beautiful little girl becoming insecure, which is normal for a teenager. She seems confused, lazy, and sensitive, which worries me even more. Modern parents are more hands-on and understanding than past parents, but it feels like society has pushed them to the other extreme.
The old generations were absent and hard, which made their children ready and prepared for the world, albeit with some consequences. They were prepared to take on the harsh and cruel world, preparing their children to be warriors in the concrete jungle of modern society.
The most recent generations of parents are more involved but have serious issues setting limits for their children. Sometimes, parents avoid setting limits because they do not want their children to suffer, which can result in raising children who are too soft for the real world.
These children are used to immediately having everything their own way, which is not reflective of reality. This immediate gratification can lead to frustration, especially in a country like Brazil, and is creating a generation of frustrated adults not only there but also in other countries around the world.
Raising a child can be challenging, especially for single parents. Single-parent families are becoming increasingly common worldwide. Both single mothers and fathers face difficulties in raising a child independently.
However, even in traditional nuclear families with both parents and two partners, there can be challenges. Conflicts may arise regarding how to educate and discipline the children, as each spouse may have a different approach. One may seek to pacify the situation, while the other may prefer to address the issue directly and enforce consequences to prevent future problems.
Sometimes, simplicity and ignorance are better than knowledge and understanding. The question is, are today’s children happier than when I was a child in England 40 or 50 years ago? I would only go home to eat and sleep. Is the internet really so good for us?
Or do we pay a heavy price for having such an important tool in our lives? And now children have access to it from a very early age. So, is the internet a tool, a weapon, a form of pleasure, a distraction, or a slow poison?
I am sorry for drawing attention to my frustration with my daughter and her future. I have had to vent my frustrations about her and her education. I hope that she understands in the future. If she does not, what can I do? There are limits to what I can do as a parent. We all have our own limitations, both financially and academically and as human beings. I have tried my best, and that is all we can do. We can only work within our abilities, which are restricted by our limitations, and nothing more.
Exercise and then classes for the rest of the day.
In bed by 11 pm.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
