The Foolishness of Youth
Now I realize that with age comes wisdom, but some kids are really making dumb choices today with no thought to their future. It is very frustrating. I think that's why it is a good thing I am not a parent. For the most part I can control my horses' moves - keep theim in a stall or in an enclosed pasture when I am not there with them and I feel secure in the knowledge that they will be there when I return. Not that I am advocating that for kids, but I really think there needs to be fences around kids as they grow up also - fences made up of rules, requirements, and expectations. One small bad choice at age 15 can be life altering.
I wonder a lot about my students and their personal choices. They come from such varied backgrounds. Some have involved parents that take an active part in their children's lives. Some have nonexistant parents - the ones that provide food and shelter and very little else. It's so unfair. These kids are developing the moral fiber that will guide them throughout the rest of their life. Kind of like foal imprinting - what you do now and the experiences you give them today will impact how they see and do things until they die. Scary!
That being said, makes me thankful for my dog and cat. They are pretty well-behaved for animals!
