Parenting 2

This post by Dunx, along with various familial occasions over the weekend (Ian's parents were in town, visiting -- inter alia but, let's face it, primarily -- Ilan), prompted me to think about parenting again. The result of that thinking isn't exactly an Earth-shattering revelation, but I offer it nevertheless:

The job of parents is not to protect their children from the world -- though that may be a necessary adjunct, especially early on -- but to prepare them for it. Which, since the world is full of pain, may very well involve letting them get hurt from time to time. Even, sometimes, when you could intervene and prevent it.

Profound, eh?

Anyway. My own parents are still the best ever (so nyaah!), but I'm sure you all (by which I mean Dunx & Jen, but also some others I'm not going to name at the moment -- and, heck, anyone else to whom it might be relevant) will scale dizzy heights too.

Be good.
Posted by matt at May 2, 2005 11:26 PM