A kid refugee
When I think of my father’s childhood, I get very sad. He was a child refugee. He grew up in similar situation as the kids in Ukraine right now. It is absolutely horrific for them, what they are experiencing. The slight caveat is I do believe that these children will appreciate much more than the average person who hasn’t gone through any kind of real struggle. So it’s unfortunate that these kids have this scar on their lives, but I do believe that they’ll be able to deal with more pressure in life.
Super Human Powers
My father ended up coming to the USA. He put himself through the most academically rigorous university in the United States. Then he ended up working all around the world helping other countries create infrastructure. This is a refugee child. Refugees can be any race, any ethnicity, and any religion. Each child has that potential because deep down inside they know what it is to persevere after struggle. They can also appreciate life. Refugee children have a greater capacity to accept the unfairness and hardships of life. I truly believe past experience brings forth strength in the future. The harder situation the greater the gratitude.
Sheltering our kids
I think growing up today, we really try to protect our children and their mental health. I wonder in the long run if it may actually backfire on us. Hear me out, lately I see children who grow up to be teenagers who can’t take any mental stress. Many have a hard time dealing with relatively easy life. Previous generations were exposed to more things and I feel are better under pressure.
Accepting others are different
I grew up with erratic mother and it’s because of her I can recognize some behavioural problems. My experiences with her has made me a person who can deal with all sorts people. I can be more accepting that someone is not like me. Lately I have seen the act of “ghosting” family members for being “toxic”. However isn’t ghosting another person toxic behaviour. This role of the perfect parent, someone who is nurturing, someone who is compassionate can create a child who can be self-centred and not accept people with anything but these characteristics.
Inspirational Gen Z
The heroes in the generation of our children are the kids who have experienced much less perfect childhood. They are ones who speak out loud. An experience or disability of some sort gave them the courage to to speak out. By doing that they became stronger and inspired many children. That’s why I will choose to show my children the struggle of others. So many of our children’s childhoods are perfect, how can they relate with a child who doesn’t have the same? I feel like the best quality I can teach them is genuine compassion, acceptance of people not like them, and willingness to help.