Personal Redemption

While speaking with a friend of mine he mentioned how difficult teens now a days were. Drug use is high, violence, the unwillingness to learn. His rant went on for a few minutes while I contemplated...he also used drugs, was prone to violent acts and did not have an interest in learning. However, standing before me was a well read, gentle being and educator.

Funny, we all experienced some parts of this...Its being a a teenager. My friend and I disagreed with this assessment. What he did not acknowledge was that he had found redemption. He had learned from his mistakes and did not acknowledge that he had to experience, hurt, hangovers, death of friends and whatever else before the light went on and he got it. He tells me that I'm a screaming hippy, bleeding heart liberal but I do not think its any of these things. As educators, parents and communities we look at children and ask the question "why would you do that??" whatever "that" is. But we often do not look inward and ask ourselves "Why did I do that??" Perhaps this is why I am more tolerant of some choices (not teen drinking or drug use or violence of course) but because we have found our own redemption through age, experience or whatever. We should allow kids to be kids and its only through their mistakes that better more sound life choices can be made.

posted by Song @ 5:43 AM