Growing up too Fast.

While watching "Consuming Kids", I thought to myself that video is correct on how children grow up too fast. I personally, know that I've been that kid who wanted what was advertised on TV, and I think a majority of the people do the same. When we are kids we want to be grown up when we really are not. For example, when I was 6 I would always want to get a Barbie jeep to drive around because I loved that fact that my parents could drive. Whenever my mom told me that I had to wait 10 years it made me upset. Sometimes too upset that they felt bad for me, and by feeling bad for me they also felt obligated as parents to buy something to temporarily make me happy. We play dress up doctors, artists, President, etc all jobs adults have. We also play "house" so there would be a "mommy, daddy, and kids". Showing that kids always have this idea of what it is like to be grown up. Media largely influences this through TV shows and movies because ratings seem to rarely apply anymore, something rated PG-13 could be most likely something rated R. Our culture has adapt to a "pure" mind in that sense. We are aging faster than we know.

SOCIALIZATION:

In class we talked about how our neighborhoods shape who we are. The fact that I moved about five times in my whole life also got to me. Does having been in 5 different neighborhoods make me a person with a variety of socializing techniques? Then I realized how much it has helped me to build friendships, I was always been put in a different environment when it came to school. I had to find friends, figure out schedules, and get on the good side of teachers. The fact that I moved a lot did not only matter to the type of neighborhood I was put in, but the whole new environment I was put in. From Evanston to Skokie to Des Plaines to Wheeling to Buffalo Grove I've been in a huge variety of suburbs all were definitely different from each other. It was a great experience now that I really think about it because without moving alot I would never have the ability to make new friends easily. Now, I adore the fact that I have new people to meet at college next year! :)

Crazy Parents?

Reading the article about both Chinese and Western Parents I realized how crazy some parents can be. I almost have a catharsis-tic feeling because my parents are not as harsh as the Chinese parents are in the article. Although, it may be viewed as a stereotypical Chinese parents, some of the things in there does stand true for me because I have Indian parents. They may not be as strict as other parents, but they know when I should do certain things and when I shouldn't. Being strict in my opinion is a good things, because it will help in the future. It is better to provide more than just food and shelter being a parents. Being a parent also means that the parent does things in the best interest for the child. I am starting to realize now that without my parents being so anal about me as I grew up, I would not be who I am today. It is because of my parents I know when to say 'No' to certain things, and they are the reason I know my boundaries. So at times we all may hate our parents for making us stay home and do chores, but most of the time they deserve a "Thank You" for all they've done for us.

Tuesday's with Morrie

If we are afraid to love, why might that be? How can we overcome this?

I think the key thing that makes people scared to fall in love is the fact that we are afraid of commitment. This idea of being with the same person for years, and not thinking that way about anyone else. This idea of being with someone else and having so much more responsibility that you previously did. Lastly, this idea of being with someone and taking a risk at being hurt because Love does not always go right. All these reasons make people scared to fall in love, or love in general because what you see in someone may not always be what they see in you.

People overcome this by taking that leap of faith and committing, my parents did and they have been married for almost 22 years. Of course they argue now and then, but at the end of the day they talk about going to see movies together so it is never a big deal. Love is a fear one should atleast face once in their lives, because once you commit it's really hard to quit.