As a childless adult, it’s my duty to be part of other people’s lives and support families by being a trusted adult (trusted by parents and kids) and be a good role model for others’ kids.
Why? Because we live in a society. Today’s kids are tomorrow’s adults. There are, unfortunately, a lot of terrible social influences out there, and parents can’t battle society alone. Young boys and girls need to learn and develop healthy relationships with men and women alike, beyond just their parents, in order to have something to model themselves after and to learn how to treat others with love and respect.
And this is especially so for singletons. A lot of the bad and warped ideas about “relationships” and even self-esteem comes from unhealthy views of romantic relationships. Ideas like if you’re not good enough if you don’t have a boyfriend/girlfriend. Or ideas that men and women cannot “only” be friends (objectification of other sex). Ideas that men are owed relationships and sex by women (incels). Ideas that it’s better to be with a bad partner than to be single (abuse).
Thank you so much for saying this. It’s refreshing to hear this coming from someone else. We are divided in so many ways and need to bring the spirit of community back - the things you mention are critical steps in that direction.
I absolutely envy every family that has you in their lives. Please never stop thinking that way because we desperately need people like you. Not as a free baby sitter or lunch provider, but as a role model and influence. We really cannot do it all by ourselves.
As a childless adult, it’s my duty to be part of other people’s lives and support families by being a trusted adult (trusted by parents and kids) and be a good role model for others’ kids.
Why? Because we live in a society. Today’s kids are tomorrow’s adults. There are, unfortunately, a lot of terrible social influences out there, and parents can’t battle society alone. Young boys and girls need to learn and develop healthy relationships with men and women alike, beyond just their parents, in order to have something to model themselves after and to learn how to treat others with love and respect.
And this is especially so for singletons. A lot of the bad and warped ideas about “relationships” and even self-esteem comes from unhealthy views of romantic relationships. Ideas like if you’re not good enough if you don’t have a boyfriend/girlfriend. Or ideas that men and women cannot “only” be friends (objectification of other sex). Ideas that men are owed relationships and sex by women (incels). Ideas that it’s better to be with a bad partner than to be single (abuse).
Parents can’t fight all of that on their own.
Well said.
Thank you so much for saying this. It’s refreshing to hear this coming from someone else. We are divided in so many ways and need to bring the spirit of community back - the things you mention are critical steps in that direction.
I absolutely envy every family that has you in their lives. Please never stop thinking that way because we desperately need people like you. Not as a free baby sitter or lunch provider, but as a role model and influence. We really cannot do it all by ourselves.