Parenting is fundamentally a transfer of ownership over a child’s life from parent to child. Healthy parents work toward this as they bring their kids through three stages.
Talking Points:
- Dependent children can’t feed themselves or take care of themselves in any way. The world revolves around them.
- Independent children start to assert themselves and show a desire to explore and learn about the world around them. This is still very much a “me-centered” existence.
- Interdependent children move beyond selfish independence and start looking for ways to help and serve others. This is true maturity.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- In your childhood, did your parents transfer ownership to you too quickly or too slowly?
- Make a list of the way kids are dependent on their parents in the early years.
- What are some signs that a child is starting to learn independence?
- Explain the difference between “interdependent” and “independent”. When did you first start maturing into interdependence? How can you help your kids do it?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
