Michael Tharp English 101 Professor Sattelmeyer Parents Role in Child Development In “Beliefs About Families” Mary Piper states, “In our culture, after a certain age, children no longer have permission to love their parents.” I think it depends on the child, and how the child decides to express how he/she feels about his/her family publicly. To say that children no longer have permission to love their parents is a false statement, in my opinion. Children are influenced by what is “cool”, more in our generation then the ones before. The question is, what is really cool? I don’t think it is cool to not acknowledge the very people who love and look after you everyday. Parents are the people who support you financially, they are there for you in times of need, they teach you right and wrong, and they do everything they can to help you grow into a successful adult. Most parents help their children whenever they can financially. They help by doing big things such as paying for college, helping with a car, keeping a roof over their children’s head, and many more big things. My parents have given me a car, they are helping put me through college, and they have always made sure that I have clothes on my back and a roof over my head. They help with smaller things like giving kids spending money, buying them material things that they want, and many more things. Before I got a job my parents always gave me money to do go out with my friends and have a good time. Also, they bought me other small things like accessories for my car, lots of Christmas presents I have wanted, and many smaller things that I have wanted
2 over the years. There were many big and small things my parents have given me. They did not have to, but they did because they love me. Moreover, parents are there for their children in times of need. When kids have bad days, they get hurt, or they just need someone to be there for them when they are going through a rough time, parents play a huge part. As children grow into young adults and their bodies and hormones change, it is good to have family there to help them. When tragedies happen, it is always good to have parents there to help their children. When I was a senior in high school one of my good friends died in a drunk driving accident. I had no clue what I was going to do, but it was my parents who helped me get through the rough time. Additionally, they help you grow by teaching you the difference between right and wrong. It is an obligation that parents must teach their children the difference between right and wrong. Children are reflections of how well their parents raised them. If children grow to be well behaved then their parents succeed in that sense. My parents taught me how to treat girls the right way. In was such as opening the door for them and respecting them. They taught me how to handle myself in different situations. I was taught to say no if I was around illegal substances. They taught me how to be a gentleman and show respect to everyone. Now, I respect elders, and I treat everyone with the respect that they deserve. In that sense, they succeeded. Piper wrote a good paper, but I just could not agree with this point she was trying to make. Some children choose to be “cool,” and not acknowledge their parents. If they were to think about everything there parents do for them I think they would realize that it isn’t that “cool.” Parents are there for their children in all situations. They support you
3 financially, they are there for you in times of need, they teach you the difference between right and wrong, and they do everything they can to help you grow into a successful adult. Children will always have permission to love their parents. I think that children should always keep everything their parents do for them in mind, and show them gratitude for everything they do. It is the real “cool” thing to do.