Day 19: Disrespecting Your Parents

I have some conflicting thoughts on this subject. 

Parents are the people that bring us into this world. They create us, most times they raise us, and most times they try to give us a good life. I feel that automatically, the fact that someone is a parent grants them a certain level of respect. However, this is where the conflicting feelings come in, because not all parents are "one size fits all". Sadly not all parents are good parents, not everyone gives their child a good life, and there are times when the parent isn't even there to raise the child. 

I was lucky to have parents that truly love me, no matter what problems they had with each other and what battles they had to fight in life. Beyond all the issues and trauma, ultimately they loved me, the trusted me, they put a roof over my head and provided me with both the support and the independence that I relied on to grow as a person. And although I can think back to times where I had some teenage rebellion and I didn't necessarily give them all the respect I should have, I did more often than not try to respect them as my parents.

Sadly, not everyone is so lucky. And I also don't feel that simply because two people did what anyone else can do and reproduced does that mean they automatically deserve to be put on a pedestal. I believe that most time children are a product of their environment and upbringing, and the lack of respect and sense of entitlement our youth has today I think is a very strong reflection on the parenting they received. There are so many parents out there that prefer their careers over their children, or prefer their own addictions over their children, or prefer to just completely ignore the fact that there is a child they chose to bring into this world that relies on them for their livelihood and upbringing. I don't see how these people truly deserve a high level a respect. 

This is why at this point I don't chose to be a parent. I don't think that children are a pawn or a prize or part of some sort of checklist. Children should be truly wanted before being brought into this world. Whether they are planned or an accident, a child should be something that is cherished, not an inconvenience or something to do when your life gets boring or your relationship starts falling apart. 

My general feeling is that respect is something that is earned, and no matter what your position in life, if you don't deserve it, don't expect me to respect you.