Do Parents Know Best

Parents know best – do they really? Deborah Y. Pratt YOUTH ISSUES Just as I thought, this captioned topic immediately made you as a parent begin to read, curious as to exactly what I would have to say in today's article. Well, as a parent, of course I would like to think that we really know best when it comes to our children. After all we are older than they are, should be more matured, have more life experiences and we are the ones admonished by God to train up our children in the way they should go. Many parents feel that because they have experienced life it is their responsibility to continue to direct their child's life straight through young adult and even into adulthood. Some say that they want to spare their children from making some of the mistakes they made while some, be it consciously or subconsciously, are trying to live their lives through their children. For others they may feel that they have a certain reputation to maintain and therefore their children must attend a certain college, pursue a certain career and live the dream life they visualized for them. I have heard far too many times children, teenagers preparing to graduate high school and go off to college, complain about being forced to pursue a certain career that they have no desire to. People usually work harder and perform better when it is something they really want to do. "If I'm the one paying to send you to college, you are studying to become a doctor or I won't be paying at all." Believe it or not some parents actually make similar statements to their children. Is this a good thing to do? Parents, what about choosing your child's mates? The last time I checked we were not living in one of those countries such as India, where this practice may be customary. Again as a parent, I reiterate that I understand parents wanting the best for their children, but you must know when to let go. In most cases a young man may not be a criminal or even a bum, but because he does not have