Obedience - At What Cost?

I was reading our local news paper today and was shocked to read about a man driving around our area trying to lure kids into his car. It is so scary for the people that live here. You can hear people whispering about it everywhere you go in town.

I was in the grocery store the other day getting my cart. A little boy, maybe 18 months old, came running out into the cart area squealing with delight. The mother ran in after him and snatched him up. "I told you to stay with Mommy! You were bad! That bad man could have taken you! You are going to be strapped in the cart now the whole time we are here because you didn't listen!" The little boy cried so loud the entire time they were in the store. It was heartbreaking. You could hear the fear and anger in this mothers voice. It was a very negative experience, all for the sake of fear and obedience training.

Fear. It is the driving force and one of the main reasons parents are mean and control their kids today. This mother was so petrified about this guy driving around that she was mean to her son, instilling him with fear and negativity. He was angry and hurt by her. The entire time at the store he wanted to get away from her and get down and explore. When a stranger is kinder to a child than the parent, it can be very conflicting for a child. Children are responsive to love, kindness, trust and joy not fear, anger and negativity.

Children are not naturally designed to be obedient over their own inner desires and drives. Parents spend years trying to bend the will of their children to meet their needs before their own. The little boy that ran into the store before his Mom was so joyful and full of life. He was exploring and running and in such bliss at that moment. He didn't have the ability to put his mothers needs before his own. It just isn't possible and it is so narcissistic to expect such a young child to do so. Most adults can't even do it. To expect a toddler to put obedience before exploring and playing is not only cruel, it is unrealistic.

When a child isn't raised in the mainstream way of being trained to obey by every adult around him, he stays in a state of Wholeness than more traditionally raised kids. The child is confident and their inner knowing and intuition stays in tact. If an adult tells them to do something like, "get in my car", they wouldn't even consider it. It would be like asking a confident adult the same question. They do not have the fear of not obeying on their backs, driving them to do things that don't feel right. When trained for obedience by parents and teachers, the desires of adults always come before their own... or else! Safety of the child becomes an issue because they are so trained to listen to adults without question. They are forced to kiss Grandma when they don't want to, they are made to obey adults in every scenario - except one... and that one feels very unclear to most kids.

There is no "Stranger Danger" film, or sit-down talk powerful enough to override the years of obedience training that most kids receive for them to be able to have a clear knowing of what to do in the situation when an adult is asking them to do something. It is very conflicting for a child. When a child has physically and emotionally gone through the motions of obedience and meeting adults needs, just telling a child to "not listen to a stranger" is so hypocritical when everything else they hear in life says just the opposite.

I feel that my children are much safer than children who have been raised with obedience training, because they have always been able to have their needs met without putting our needs before theirs, hence valuing their needs as much as others needs. They would never consider listening to an adult tell them to do something they weren't comfortable with because they have never been forced to do so. Ever.

We talk with our children about listening to their inner guidance. We also told them about the man driving around our neighborhood and we came from a calm place of information. Not a place of fear and exaggeration. I want them to listen to themselves first and foremost, before anyone else, including me.

I was almost abducted as a little girl. A man drove up to me as asked me to get in his car. He was exposing himself and even with that red flag, my hand was on the door handle! I knew not to get in, but I was so scared of what would happen if I didn't obey the man. I was so scared and confused. I wanted to be a "good girl". I was always praised because I listened so well and because I "respecting adults". (which really means obeying). I know he was telling me to do something, and I was trained to do what I was told - by every adult around me. Luckily some other kids came by and he drove off. Who knows if I would be here today if that hadn't happened. I know first hand the conflicting message our culture sends to children.

Living this life has made me rethink so much. Obedience and fear go hand in hand. When you can let go of fear, you aren't so driven to force a child to obey as a parent who is living in a more trusting place. You may begin to see life through your child's eyes and begin putting their needs in a place equal to your own. Children want to hear information from us about safety. It is important though that what we say and how we live go hand in hand. When we are sending mixed messages, information because confusing to children. Parenting in partnership has many long term benefits and I believe that safety is just one.