I watched the kids movie Grow the other day and it made me contemplate how many parents have told me that raising kids gave them
-a revival of childlike curiosity and awe towards the world and its creatures
and
-a renewal of that little kid sense of right and wrong that tells you you need to help suffering people and animals when you see them.
I know kids don’t always have this effect on their parents but I wonder what kind of impact having less little ones around will have on society by losing this feedback loop.
One easy example is that bringing home homework often leads to the whole family updating their knowledge—I remember informing my dad that iceberg lettuce had very little nutritional value after learning it in health class!
Kids close a circle for you. You start to understand your parents in ways that wouldn’t be possible without going through the same experiences they went through.
Everyone is a perfect parent until they have kids. You can imagine you’ll be better than your parents were. Then when you have kids it’s very much an experience like “walking a mile in their shoes”. You find yourself adjusting your understanding. Still trying to be better, but also understanding why they did the things they did.
I’m hoping my kids can find a way to forgive my mistakes, but I know they won’t be able to fully understand them without having kids of their own. I find that sad for them. Understanding made a difference to me, and I don’t think they’ll be able to experience that.
I feel exactly the same, except, it doesnt make me sad that if they dont have children, theyll never understand. I hope they dont have children of their own. If they never understand me, Im okay with that.