Journalled on Friday, 22 September 2023 | Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro: 30 degrees, hot, sunny and sticky.
The calm after the storm. After the confusion of the night before, the morning was still. It felt like walking on eggshells.
Nalva went to work, and Yasmin went to school. They left and returned together as planned. I was slightly worried because they only arrived at 5 p.m, even though Yasmin usually leaves school at midday.
I did not ask what had happened, but everyone was safe, so it was okay. We must sometimes break eggs to make an omelette; families are not perfect institutions. So, sometimes, or many times, we have to say what is wrong, the problem, or what is on our minds.
One important point to note is that we live in a plastic world today.
Everyone and everything is expected to be politically correct, even when things are really bad, broken, and messed up. I am old school; I cannot pretend, or it is very difficult to do so. It is hard to ignore when something is wrong, yet modern society’s hypocrisy tells us the opposite. We are expected to accept the ridiculous, look away from what is wrong, and pretend it is not there.
We are often pressured to accept things or situations that conflict with our principles, or with those passed down to us by our parents. We know what is right and wrong, but if we question or criticise, we are labelled as villains or ignorant.
This “woke” culture that has permeated modern society is eroding the fundamental principles instilled in us by our parents. What was once considered wrong or unacceptable is now seen as right and acceptable.
I am not saying everything is entirely bad. Still, there are things today that, because of a lack of common sense in the argument, are completely and logically unacceptable to me and many others. I believe the key phrase here is “common sense.”
We now live in a society where common sense is not valued as it once was and is not seen as a vital part of our daily lives. No matter how academically or physically skilled we are, what is the point of having an education or a skill without basic common sense?
I feel frustrated and powerless when it comes to Yasmin. As a father, I see my once-vibrant, beautiful little girl becoming insecure, which, to a point, is normal for a teenager. She seems confused, lazy, and sensitive, which worries me even more. Modern parents are more hands-on and understanding than those of the past, but it feels as if society has pushed them to the other extreme.
The older generations were absent and hard, which forced their children to be ready for the world, albeit with some consequences. They were prepared to take on the harsh, cruel world, raising their children to be warriors in the adverse concrete jungle of modern society.
The most recent generations of parents are more involved but struggle to set limits.
Sometimes, parents avoid setting limits because they do not want their children to suffer or be offended, which can result in raising children who are too soft and later expect the world to owe them something, only to become frustrated in the real world.
These children are accustomed to having everything their own way immediately, which does not reflect reality. This immediate gratification can lead to frustration, especially in a country like Brazil, and is creating a generation of frustrated adults not only there but also in other countries around the world.
Raising a child can be challenging, especially for single parents. Single-parent families are increasingly common worldwide. Both single mothers and fathers face difficulties in raising a child on their own.
However, even in traditional nuclear families with both parents, two partners, there can be challenges. Conflicts may arise over how to educate and discipline the children, as each spouse may have a different approach. One may seek to pacify the situation, while the other may prefer to address the issue directly and enforce consequences to prevent future problems.
Sometimes, simplicity and ignorance are better than knowledge and understanding. Are today’s children happier than I was as a child in England 40 or 50 years ago?
I would only go home to eat and sleep. Is the internet really so good for us?
Or do we pay a heavy price for having such an important tool in our lives? Children now have access to it from a very early age. So, is the internet a tool, a weapon, a source of pleasure, a distraction, or a slow poison?
I am sorry for raising concerns about my daughter and her future. I have had to vent my frustrations about her and her education. I hope she understands in the future. If she does not, what can I do?
There are limits to what I can do as a parent. We all have our own limitations, both financially and academically, as human beings. I have tried to do my best, and that is all we can really do. We can only work within our abilities, which are constrained by our limitations, and nothing more.
Exercise and then classes for the rest of the day.
In bed by 11 p.m.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
