i knew the state of society’s view of children was bad but i didn’t realize just how dire the situation was was until the lockdown began. this last month or so has really opened my eyes to how much people dislike children, even their own children, simply because they exist and they need them because you know… they’re small humans without the capacity to care for themselves. it seems harmless but memes talking about how parents need alcohol to deal with their kids or can’t wait for their kids to go back to school so someone else can deal with them does harm in that it dehumanizes children and puts blame on the children for existing when it’s not the child’s fault they were brought into the world. it also brings about another uncomfortable fact: if you don’t like the way your children behave, barring them having a behavioral disorder or disability, you’re probably to blame and need to reevaluate how you’re raising them. children are more than innocent bystanders… they are helpless and absolutely reliant on the adults around them to not only provide for them, but to show them love which in turn sets the precedent for how they will love in the future. this attitude implying they asked to be here and that it’s okay to joke about how annoying they are has got to stop.
The whole lockdown situation has also really highlighted how a good percentage of the population don’t see schools and teachers as places for learning or educators… They just see them as daycares/babysitters they don’t have to pay for.
I don’t know how many times I’ve heard stories of how, when schools were first starting to close, parents still tried dropping their kids off with the excuse of ‘well, SOMEONE has to be here! I can’t take them!’ or parents who have been bemoaning the sudden torture of having to spend time with their kids as ‘I’m losing my FUCKING mind; what the hell am I supposed to do with these kids?!’
It’s one thing if you work for an ‘essential business’ and you don’t have anyone at home to watch your kids, but the parents who are also stuck at home who are acting like the thought of spending time with a life THEY brought into the world is insane.
Yeah. This really drives home to me how many people see children as a life goal or status symbol or relationship stage instead of human beings.
Me, a Childfree woman who’s worked in a daycare center and been crucified for saying this shit for years:
