Parenting is one of the world's greatest honors, but also one of the most difficult tasks. Too often we experience both in the same day. We appreciate the time, energy, and lessons you dedicate to your children, and we will continue to support and complement your daily efforts.
If you read or watch the news, you're probably well aware of the current serious crisis in youth mental health. This has been visible to those of us who work with young people on a daily basis for some time, and has been explained in many ways. Some researchers say depression isn't actually on the rise, just that young people are more willing to come forward now. Some say it has to do with the pandemic, lockdowns, the economy and school safety.
While there may be some truth to some or many of these explanations, my take is a little different. Teens' self-reported relationship with their parents is near an all-time high and has increased overall since 2000 (Source: Monitoring the Future, monitoringthefuture.org). Teens' life satisfaction generally rose from 1990 to 2012, but then declined sharply over the next decade. why? Some thoughts:
smartphone. We are losing a childhood that was primarily based on play and too often dependent on our phones. This is completely inconsistent with what we know about human development. You can be connected even if you are not connected. You can play the game without playing together. You can be in the same room without talking or watching the same thing for entertainment. Truth be told, a phone without the internet is the way to go for today's kids. This allows you to quickly connect with friends (texting and calling) and keep in touch with your parents, but you still need each other.
Social media. This is a semi-decent place to catch up with faraway friends and their families and remember birthdays. We may be able to collect information on social media. But it's also full of lame excuses for the news, unrealistic comparisons, and enough negativity to fill the universe. That's not a good place for a teenage brain (and may not be a good place for many adults either!).
Lack of results. Have your children help with chores around the house every day. They may not be able to mow the lawn or shovel snow as carefully as you, but they can still contribute to your home and family. You might load the dishwasher the wrong way, mess up the pancake batter, or fold the towels the wrong way…but you can still make a contribution. And each of these involves accomplishing something worthwhile. Start young and never stop. Achieving something establishes self-esteem, which causes our self-esteem to skyrocket.
As a general disclaimer, I am not a social scientist or an expert of any kind. I am simply an observer of young people who truly want to give their children a chance to succeed in the world. I want to help them stay physically, mentally, socially and emotionally healthy for our community and the places they seek to succeed. I'm not criticizing anyone either…I've made a lot of mistakes myself. I hope you all learn something from my mistakes and that together we can do better for this generation and the next generation of pioneers.
In 2024, let's continue to work together for children and make Clare a great place to live and learn.
