So, am I the only one who has a drastically reduced tolerance for completely unaware people since becoming a parent!?
I’m thinking not!
Seriously, I am sooooo much more selective about with whom we spend our time. I truly believe that all people put off a certain energy. And the negative energy…I’m just not feeling it.
I used to be fine with spending time with people with a less than positive energy. My thought process was that I could pretty much bounce back from anything and keep myself in check. I would make friends with almost ANYONE, pointing out their redeeming qualities and completely overlooking the negative. To a fault. My sister always told me I possessed this quality, but it really never clicked with me until I had children. “They’re a lot more likely to bring you down than you are to bring them up,” she would say.
Now, I find myself crossing over to the other side of the fence all together. I really feel strongly that I don’t want my children around negative, clueless people. I realize that I cannot protect them from everything and everybody. But aren’t they going to come across enough people and circumstances like this in life without their own parents subjecting them to it? It is our job to protect them. I want them to know the difference and equip them with the ability to make solid judgments on their own. When they encounter people like this, I want it to feel strange to them, not normal.
And what do you do when these encounters simply cannot be avoided?
I really struggle with this. There is only a very fine line between teaching your child compassion for others and guarding themselves.
I’m thinking my sister had a point.
It wouldn’t be the first time - and it surely won’t be the last!!
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