Angel Season 3: Becoming a Parent (early access)
The moral case for knowing what it takes to be a parent before becoming one.
Becoming a parent is a weird experience.
For so much of people's lives, they really only have to focus on themselves and to a lesser extent the people around them. If you're lucky, it's your family and friends. Most of these people however can take care of themselves if necessary. So when it comes right down to it, you're looking out for yourself and whoever you might not want to lose, like a family member you love or the person you've fallen for and possibly married. These people mean the world to you and you wouldn't want to live without them if you can manage it. You want them to be okay and to have the things they need to survive. You're willing to help them get the things they need which hopefully they can get for themselves when you're not around. This is at the heart of growing up and learning to be an adult.
Previously in this space, we've looked at what it means to grow up and become an adult, to leave childhood behind and find a way to make adult decisions. But what are those ideas for? Who are you making adult decisions for? Why is it important to think in such terms? One of the major reasons is to ensure that you live in a functional society where people are able to exist with each other. Another is so that those who come after you can grow up in a world where they can learn the right lessons and become like you, or someone like you. Assuming you're a good person anyway. The best way to ensure that those who come after you are like you is to have one yourself. To become a parent.
“I'm his only family, my job now is to be everything for him.”
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