What is Considered "The Proper Ways" to Raise Children Today's Society?

Some say attitude and one's outlook of life is learned through social interactions. When a child grows up in a low-income community, he or she is more likely to follow the lead of their parents and peers. If the parents are not college graduates or maybe even high school dropouts, it is common for the children to follow in their footsteps. The child may see Mom and Dad don't have a lot of money, but they always have some food on the table, a roof over their heads, and love and happiness within the family. The child may be "taught" that money helps and would be nice, but it isn't everything. The child will eventually have to decide for himself if that is a motto he will live with throughout his adulthood.

On the other hand, a child who grows up in an upper class community may be "taught" that money is the foundation of life and without it, you're a much lesser person for it. That child may also learn that without a college education, he will never make enough money to support a family; let alone support himself. Again, a decision must be made whether or not this is an adage the child will choose to adopt for himself.

In my opinion, these two scenarios can be compared by looking at the individual himself. Although, that is not to imply that financial circumstances are not a factor in the decisions made. The growing costs of a college education is a big dilemma today. Most middle class families simply can not afford it. Many college students must choose the high interest rates of the financial aid route which makes it even more difficult to begin the future they worked so hard for after graduation. Another monetary factor is the reputation of the school, whether it be the high school or the college attended. If two individuals apply for the same position, having the same GPA, impressive personalities and qualifications, which is more probable to land the job? Would it be the one who attended an Ivy League university or the one who attended 2 years at the local community college and then graduated from a local college?

I do believe that values taught in the home are essential as to how a child grows up, views life, and functions in society. If responsibility is instilled starting at an appropriate age, it is presumable that the child will keep those important values with him throughout life. And, probably pass them along to his own children. Nonetheless, decisions made by the individual are also based on his own personality and beliefs. For instance, in some cases, a child from a low income family with parents whom did not pay much attention to him and failed to instill good values and teach responsibility may wind up running as far away from that type of life as possible. He may decide that he does not want to follow the pattern of his parents. A child that grows up in a wealthy family with parents that put extra effort into instilling good values may still choose to drop out of high school or college and hop from one job to another.

The wealthy parents would probably assume their child will live by ideal norms for the fact that he was given encouragement and money. In all reality, children raised by having everything handed to them without gratis and not assigned chores or other responsibilities usually live adulthood remaining in that mindset. Many will automatically expect others to do the same. That approach leads one down a dangerous path and often to a devastating reality check when those expectations are not received. When that young adult ventures out into the real world after being raised in such a manner, he may begin to view it as a very unfamiliar environment; professionally and socially. If someone is raised where everything from cleaning, doing dishes and laundry to simply clearing the table after a meal was always done for him, he certainly wouldn't think twice about leaving messes in the break room. Little things such as that can lead to some pretty peeved co-workers. It reminds me of that commonly seen sign often found around offices, "Your mother doesn't work here. Clean up after yourself." There is a reason for the popularity of such signs. Little annoyances over time create resentment among people. It may sound trivial for an employee to always leave his lunch waste on the break room table or coffee rings and spills on the counters, but imagine him doing it every day! Consequently, his amateurish social skills bleed into his professional relations. One may have an impressive academic back round, but having only that will not bestow success.

Whatever "class" a child is raised in can generate any disposition of adult. Much of one's future relies on the parenting, but a great amount of it resides within the individual's own spirit, will, personality, and heart. Many people raised in poverty have grown up to become very successful, upstanding citizens. Alternatively, kids who have been raised among financial wealth may turn out to be a continuous failure.

Another reflection to consider is overprotecting a child and shielding him from the everyday hazards and facts of life can produce a very confused, gullible, and socially inept adult. Teaching anyone to view the world with rose colored glasses will certainly do more harm than good. To the other extreme, inducing a stance during a child's upbringing that the world is cruel, unfair and dangerous is equally detrimental. Children should always be taught (and shown by example) that by trusting one's own self, listening to one's inner voice, and continuously standing the grounds of personal faith, they will always be on high ground. Parents must explain that the world will always have positives, negatives, and all the gray areas in between, but that is life. That is balance. That is reality.