A 21st-century child

I often think about how big is the chance to grow up in this century, how parents raised their children in the last century. It was another time, maybe another place and it makes no sense to compare, although it's very much helpful to educate differently...

30 years ago, parents were worried children might not be successful in working life but did they know how to make sure their children have the tools to succeed? Fear was great since tradition, religion and society were too much to have to bear! Fear of being judged, of not being normal in the society. And fear made it so difficult to trust, to let children test their own limits and learn for themselves!

Today it's my turn to be a parent but it isn't easier!

Tradition is less present, society allows more freedom and I don't practice my religion! That's something I'm not proud of, and for a long time and even today, I still have some doubt and say to myself I should have continued to go to church with my children, I should have taught them to say a prayer before going to bed... because religion was such a big part of my childhood and my faith in God has saved me every time I was in distress...

But it's more important to teach young people human values because of globalization! Universal values like freedom, equality, brotherhood, solidarity; moral and societal values.

Instead of telling them some stories from the Bible, to my mind they should better be aware of their differences in this modern global society and thus, be able to accept someone else's differences, to be tolerant. Therefore we discuss freely issues like racism, sexuality, homosexuality, gay-marriage, alcoholism, foreigners' right to vote (in France), GMO, unemployment, french political parties, the future... Every parent should try and we would be surprised how many questions our children would ask, surprised of their capacity to absorb!

And this is why I said they are so lucky to grow up, to be young in the 21st century. Perhaps teenagers are so frightened by all these changes in their body that they don't dare to ask why these changes, why the world is like it is, why things happen... But once you talk openly to them, they are very receptive.