I don't often disagree with your blog but this time I have to say I do. As a sensitive child that was often the recipient of many far too unvarnished truths, I can say that it is possible to grow up too fast, to be burdened with too much at a young age, and just as your theory goes that you are postponing 'hurts' until later, if you are hurt and alarmed too much as a child, you are also at risk to postpone your childhood until later. The brain of a three year old is a completely different structure than that of an 8 year old. I believe it is a parents job to provide a safe guidance, to observe the child and to know their temperament. As a connected parent, you know what your child is capable of containing emotionally, the same way that you would observe and determine that your early 2 year old isn't physically capable of riding a pedal bike. That is not to say that you never tell them the truth about the world and its imperfections and futilities, but as the parent I believe it is ok to be gradual in revealing this to a child. They will have decades to be exposed to all the murders on the local news, the terrorism, the fear. Babies are incubated in the womb until they can breathe on their own, children are in an emotional incubation period, it is why they need parents to take the lead, guide them, and to feel empowered to protect them when they need it.
I don't often disagree with your blog but this time I have to say I do. As a sensitive child that was often the recipient of many far too unvarnished truths, I can say that it is possible to grow up too fast, to be burdened with too much at a young age, and just as your theory goes that you are postponing 'hurts' until later, if you are hurt and alarmed too much as a child, you are also at risk to postpone your childhood until later. The brain of a three year old is a completely different structure than that of an 8 year old. I believe it is a parents job to provide a safe guidance, to observe the child and to know their temperament. As a connected parent, you know what your child is capable of containing emotionally, the same way that you would observe and determine that your early 2 year old isn't physically capable of riding a pedal bike. That is not to say that you never tell them the truth about the world and its imperfections and futilities, but as the parent I believe it is ok to be gradual in revealing this to a child. They will have decades to be exposed to all the murders on the local news, the terrorism, the fear. Babies are incubated in the womb until they can breathe on their own, children are in an emotional incubation period, it is why they need parents to take the lead, guide them, and to feel empowered to protect them when they need it.
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