The Balance of Parenting.

Yup, that's right. I'm going to start posting assignments on the blog. They're just journal entries for this question of the day type of thing. I just forgot my notebook so here I am, writing any thoughts and answers to the journal question. For these few days/weeks, the journals will be about Jeanette Wall's memoir, The Glass Castle.

"On one hand, Jeanette Walls describes the squalor she and her family lived in: hunger, poverty, garbage, lack of basic necessities. On the other, she describes the rich intellectual world her parents imparted: discussions of geology, math, literature, art. In light of the fact that three out of the four Walls children became successful, productive members of society, what do you think is the more important to children's development: comfortable living conditions or an enriching intellectual environment?"

I believe that in many ways, parenting is about finding the balance of things for our children. I, of course don't have children, but as someone who is studying to become an English Teacher; many of my classes have shed a light or two on the topic of parenting. Raising a child takes a huge amount of responsibility and love and in a way, a parent is a teacher. I'm not telling parents to wield a ruler and give their child detention, dear god no. But as the people who have brought a new life into the world, it is their responsibility to teach and show the child about everything.

EVERYTHING.

My grandfather was a teacher and the principal of a large public school in Mexico. He had to raise my mother and eleven other children at the same time. Of course he chose intellectual enrichment over comfortable living conditions. But his "household" wasn't as deep in poverty as the Walls family. My mother's childhood was filled with strict rules and hard work, which was the complete opposite from The Glass Castle. So my grandfather did find a balance between comfortable living conditions, and intellectual enrichment. He also had an addiction like Rex Walls which was smoking. So that took money from the family. However, grandpa was focused and always working. I don't think he lived a happy life because of that... Rex Walls might have lived a happier life, despite his drinking problem.

So I think that there should be both, if possible.Give a child comfortable living conditions, but not too comfortable, otherwise a child will spoil rotten. Bad living conditions means setting up a child for a bad life. In Jeanette Wall's case, she was strong and she endured her life. Not many children can do what Jeanette did, and that is what makes her memoir such an impacting story. However, if a parent does not intellectually enrich a child, the child isn't encouraged to study and go on to college. If there is too much intellectual enrichment, the child might not have any fun or joy in their lives. I have many  friends who took education very seriously and they really wish they could have enjoyed their senior year more or just school in general.

Alright, I think I've written more than enough. I'm just really tired at the moment, to be honest... In conclusion, parenting as well as teaching is a balance of many different aspects. Good parents find a way to juggle each of these aspects.

-Ares