Childhood: Fast Forwarded

In the past few classes we've been discussing the sublime but more importantly seeing the sublime through the eyes of a child. Authors such as Wordsworth and Coleridge, reflect back to their favorite memories and places as children. They then use those memories as the source of influence for their works. In discussing these works of poetry, many of the students voiced some of their favorite childhood memories, while I'm sure the rest of the class quietly reflected on their memories as well. While the nostalgic reflection was entertaining and maybe even a little inspiring; I could help but to view childhood as bittersweet. I, myself, had a "normal" childhood filled with the pleasant memories usually experienced by a child. While it wasn't perfect and I experienced some less than pleasant or perfect circumstances, my overall contemplation of my personal childhood is a positive one. As good as that seems, I can't help but to think about children today.
Too often children are being forced to grow up too fast. Whether the reasons are physical, emotional, or even economical, the end result is the same. Children are not given the opportunity to be carefree children. So much stress is put on them to look and act a certain way. With so much expectation comes limitation on the child's ability to grow and develop into the person God intended them to be. The problem of human interference has always proven to be destructive. Adults, parents in particular, believe they are shaping children into the best they can be; however, the truth is they are unintentionally breaking children apart piece by piece. Adults don't realize the children will never have a normal pleasant childhood. The reason being their interference. The childhood process is being put into fast forward so often that the end result is a scratched DVD per say. This constant fast forwarding leaves the child confused and believing that he or she is useless and unable to experience the sublime or even enjoy life in general. Is achieving the image of the "perfect child" worth the damage caused to the child? I think NOT! Childhood is pure, innocent, and beautiful;the ideal way to see the world. How can we expect people to see through the eyes of a child if they have no sense of what childhood is? The answer...we can't. It's impossible.


I commented on Sara Dye's Conformity and Consistency.