Growing up in the country you learn that if you help a chick out of its shell, or a butterfly out of its cocoon, you actually stunt their growth or even kill them.
PICTURE: Michael Kaufmann/www.freeimages.com
The agonising struggle of the butterfly to escape its cocoon forces blood into its never-before-used wings. Without the struggle, the butterfly will never fly.
Are we doing the same thing to our children with the misguided focus on safety, self-esteem and over-protection?
Our avoidance of failure and disappointment for them?
Not to mention our own need for affirmation masquerading as love; where we give them everything they want so they like us?
I know this is risky, and will result in some suffering, but I would argue that this is worth it compared to having a generation that will never fly.
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.
