This is so important. And don’t even tell me that they are just trying to do their best. If the best you can do for your child is minimally care for them but remind them about it constantly, you are a toxic parent and that child deserves so much better than you. There needs to be an overhaul on how we view/parent our children, because we say that they are our future and then we turn around and treat them like miniature adults which they are not. A lot of parents are not patient with their children, expecting that they, a NEW LIFE on this planet, should sit still, be quiet, obey orders, and a multitude of other impossible standards to meet at their age. So often their problems go unheard, and they are forced to swallow whatever their thoughts are just to please the adults around them. Ugh, I could go on and on and I’m sure none of this is new to any of you, but these are real problems that affect our society and for people who wonder why some of us as adults are so fucked up, our childhoods are the key. The problem is that nobody wants to open the door and come in gently, so we are forced to deal with the baggage that was bestowed on us often on our own. My goal as a future parent is to respect my children, treat them as people because...well, they are, and not drill whatever my philosophy is about life, but inform them of all perspectives and let them come to their own conclusions. I want to raise my future children like this so they won’t have to worry about talking to me whenever they need advice on a subject, and so they won’t have all of the unnecessary baggage that I and so many others have had because of not being considered. I know it won’t be perfect, and I’m sure I’ll make mistakes along the way, but at least I’ll have the strength to work through them and listen to my children when problems arise and they won’t be scared to speak their truths to me or anyone else in their lives.