(no subject)

[randomness]

The older you get, the more serious the consequences of your actions tend to be. Best to learn about those consequences early, from someone who loves you and means you well, rather than later, from the cold, cruel world, which cares about you not at all.

With the caveat that I am not a parent, it strikes me that delivering those consequences is a crucial--though often difficult and sometimes heartrending--aspect of parenting.

Comments

[in-parentheses.livejournal.com]

I guess my point, though, is that feelings are real consequences. I mean, I know what you're saying, of course -- there aren't as many consequences for other people, there aren't as many life-or-death consequences. But how we feel -- and how we are made to feel by others -- has a huge impact on our lives, and can even be life or death. (Take a look at teenage suicide statistics.)

I try as a teacher to remind myself that a lot of the stuff kids get worked up about is real to them, and therefore is real, period. Even when my reaction is, "Why on earth would anyone care about that??"

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Sure. I do think that it's essential if one is to understand someone to be able to take their concerns seriously. And I'm not discounting that it feels awful to make a mistake when young.