Sometimes it comes a little later in life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4PE2hSqVnk
Ha, just kidding. Or am I? Most people, myself included, could use a speech like that a few times in their lives. It would have to be softer with kids or you'd just make them cry, but a little negative reinforcement doesn't hurt (or it helps by hurting, you know what I mean). There's a kid at my work who shows up twenty minutes late, always wants to leave early, stays out with his friends until early morning, constantly plays with his phone on the job -- and whines about how unmanageable his life is, how he doesn't get enough hours or sleep, and how he needs a raise. The boss told him three months ago that if he showed up on time every day for two weeks straight he'd get a raise. This is goddamned charity given his work ethic, and you know what? Kid still hasn't done it yet. To paraphrase Alec, there's a guy standing there, money in hand, and this kid isn't man enough to take it. And we all have stuff like that. I could lose weight, and I've wanted for years to take up powerlifting, I even have some weights, but I don't do it. Not because of physical infirmity but because I'm simply too lazy. My other coworker could try dating women who aren't obvious psychos, but he keeps making the same mistake. Those piano lessons you still aren't taking, that trip to Yellowstone you always talk about but never quite get around to, whatever it is, the reason your life sucks is because YOU suck.
Now, all that was kind of a tangent, but kind of not. The problem is with the parents. Parents need to understand that squirting out a kid is not, in itself, anything to be proud of. You made offspring? Big fuckin' deal. Monkeys do it every day. Starfish don't even have brains and they create offspring! That's about as low as the achievement bar goes, folks. Surely you want to reach just a tad higher than the basic biological processes you were born with? Something I see over and over that absolutely sickens me is the "I'm proud of my Anytown Middle School Student" bumper sticker. Really, Mom? Not even an honor roll sticker? It's pathetically easy to get on the honor roll and your kid didn't even do that much, let alone something noteworthy. It's fine to have children, it's great to love them, but stop being goddamned proud of mediocrity! Kids and parents both need to be told that if they want to be special, they should do more than tell themselves they're special. They should BE special. They should distinguish themselves. If they want to feel pride beyond basic dignity, they should do something to deserve it.
Ha, just kidding. Or am I? Most people, myself included, could use a speech like that a few times in their lives. It would have to be softer with kids or you'd just make them cry, but a little negative reinforcement doesn't hurt (or it helps by hurting, you know what I mean). There's a kid at my work who shows up twenty minutes late, always wants to leave early, stays out with his friends until early morning, constantly plays with his phone on the job -- and whines about how unmanageable his life is, how he doesn't get enough hours or sleep, and how he needs a raise. The boss told him three months ago that if he showed up on time every day for two weeks straight he'd get a raise. This is goddamned charity given his work ethic, and you know what? Kid still hasn't done it yet. To paraphrase Alec, there's a guy standing there, money in hand, and this kid isn't man enough to take it. And we all have stuff like that. I could lose weight, and I've wanted for years to take up powerlifting, I even have some weights, but I don't do it. Not because of physical infirmity but because I'm simply too lazy. My other coworker could try dating women who aren't obvious psychos, but he keeps making the same mistake. Those piano lessons you still aren't taking, that trip to Yellowstone you always talk about but never quite get around to, whatever it is, the reason your life sucks is because YOU suck.
Now, all that was kind of a tangent, but kind of not. The problem is with the parents. Parents need to understand that squirting out a kid is not, in itself, anything to be proud of. You made offspring? Big fuckin' deal. Monkeys do it every day. Starfish don't even have brains and they create offspring! That's about as low as the achievement bar goes, folks. Surely you want to reach just a tad higher than the basic biological processes you were born with? Something I see over and over that absolutely sickens me is the "I'm proud of my Anytown Middle School Student" bumper sticker. Really, Mom? Not even an honor roll sticker? It's pathetically easy to get on the honor roll and your kid didn't even do that much, let alone something noteworthy. It's fine to have children, it's great to love them, but stop being goddamned proud of mediocrity! Kids and parents both need to be told that if they want to be special, they should do more than tell themselves they're special. They should BE special. They should distinguish themselves. If they want to feel pride beyond basic dignity, they should do something to deserve it.