There are plenty of books on parenting that people think make sense. In fact, there is no easy, follow-the-steps process on rearing children as everyone is different.
Of course, that doesn’t stop anyone having an opinion on how to rear someone else’s child.
But here is the thing: is it rear or raise?
If we use the word ‘rear’, the following comes up on Google for synonyms: ass, backside, behind, bottom, bum, buns, butt, buttocks, can, derriere, fanny, fundament, hind end, hindquarters, keister, nates, posterior, prat, rear end, rump, seat, stern, tail, tail end, tooshie, tush, body part, any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity. It also says ‘rear’ can be used on children and livestock.
So, if the word is so confusing, it is no wonder bringing up kids is so difficult.
Take the moment, for example, when we see kids doing stupid things on e-bikes and scooters. The first thing I think of is: what are their parents doing?
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But when I was about seven and my brother was 12, we were driving a go-kart up and down Ilkley Road. I was the ‘lookout’ for cars coming at the bottom of the hill. Now, dad wasn’t overly impressed with this, but he never stopped us. The same dad used to let us ride on the back of the truck all the way to Maroochydore on occasion.
We were both driving on the road well before we were 17 as well. “Terrible parenting,” people would say these days.
Of course, when I began parenting, the interest rates went mad. We had to sell our cars and bought an old Telstra van for $5000 with the kids and the dog in the back unrestrained. We really had no choice at the time because if we couldn’t meet our payments, we would have been homeless, which would not have been our fault.
If our parenting skills and those of my parents were in play today, the kids would have probably been taken away and plenty of folks would have been judging us.
My point is, yes, I agree e-bikes and scooters are out of control and need some laws in place to save lives. But don’t be too quick to judge, as I know I would have loved to have had an e-bike back in my go-kart days.
To rear or to raise is complicated. There is no one-size-fits-all. And remember, he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Ashley Robinson is Mets Caloundra CEO, chairman of Thunder Netball and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.
