Disillusioned by Kids
The article “Generation Me-Me-Me” (by Martin Booe, July 11) brought my husband and me laughter, sighs and reinforced disillusionment over a problem we’ve witnessed firsthand. We are concerned that undisciplined children will grow into expectant young adults. Will they be workaholics or simply expect to get more for doing less?
But what right do we have to comment? We’re a husband-wife team without children. What could we possibly know? Never mind that we come from large families and even larger extended families. What happened to community responsibility? Are we to endure infractions of public harmony with no recourse? Are we not all responsible to correct misbehaving, over-self-indulgent behaviors? It’s time to speak out for boundaries!
Laurie S. Pannone
Los Angeles
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Mr. Booe should put down the magnifying glass and pick up a mirror. When was the last time he let a struggling mother go ahead of him in line at the supermarket? When was the last time he smiled at the person who bought “half the Toys R Us inventory” because he knew she was trying not to anger someone like him? When was the last time he appreciated the difficulty of their chosen journey and used it as an opportunity to be grateful for his quiet world?
Raising children is an imperfect science. It’s part of life. Even if you complain and shout and stamp your foot, the world is not going to do it your way. My suggestion is, take care of yourself, move your seat, leave the restaurant, find acceptance, find tolerance, find compassion. Realize this is but one hour, one day, one heartbeat of inconvenience, but don’t compound the difficulties of parenting by adding “make me-me-me happy” to the list of things parents should do.
Lori Tubert
Burbank