Parents Must Be Parents…

Young people often ask: “Why do parents worry so much, and watch us, and repeat so often the

same old precautions? We can take care of ourselves. Why don’t they leave us alone and let us learn in

our own way? ” In short, it seems that young people want to know why parents must act like parents!

The fact is that there is no acceptable way for parents to separate themselves from parental

responsibility. They have no choice if they do their duty. They must counsel; they must caution; they

must be concerned; they must pass on to their children the benefit of their own experience and of

others. In not other words, they must act like parents – or be derelict in their duty, before the law,

before society, before God. This brings to mind the poignant comment of a girl who heard he

companion complaining of their parents – complaining of being counseled and cautioned, of being asked

where they were going, who they were going with, and of being told what time they should be in – to all

of which she said: “You should be grateful to have someone think enough of you to care where you’re

going and when you will be back. My parents don’t seem to care.” This sobered those who had joined in

the general complaining. Parents may send their children to school or on a trip, or into supervised

activities, and be physically free of them for a few hours, or even for many months – but still the primary

responsibility for children must rest upon parents. Some parents will do their work better than others,

with more understanding, with less irritation, seemingly with less intrusion. Some teachings might seem

tiresome and even unessential at times – but parents must play the part of parents, and children must

recognize the part that parents must play, and be willing to listen and learn. And so far as parents and

children are concerned, there is no honorable way by which they can free themselves from their

continuing obligations to each other.