Source
r/unpopularopinion•
CriticalDisk

Children should be free to discover what they do and don’t like, without parental intervention / bias.

I’m mainly looking at parents who have an overly strong interest in some form of popular culture, and wish to make their child like this simply because they do. One parent I know, who’s a big Star Wars fan recently told me their child has “no choice” as to whether they like it or not. This made me disproportionately annoyed, as what if they don’t want like it.

This is probably unpopular as it’s none of my business how someone raises their child, but I feel they should be free to choose what they and don’t like for themselves without external influence.

Posted Jan 16, 2020, 7:29 PM UTC

97
[deleted]•

The parent you’re referring to in your scenario sounds like a fucking idiot. Exposing your kids to your interests in case they show an interest when they become age appropriate is one thing, demanding that they must enjoy the things you do just because they’re your children is another and is completely ridiculous.

As parents, I truly believe we’re just here to keep our kids safe, teach them, love them and help them through life. What we’re not here to do is putty them into what we want them to be. That’s how you end up with a kid who resents you in adulthood

4
rockydoo1•

I agree with you. If the kid truly doesn't like something and it's forced on them they will probably resent it later

2
allysony_joy•

I see that with parents who are strongly invested in anything. I’m a musician and I see lots of my friends saying how their future kids are going to be in band and will love it. This happened with me for music and dance class. I was in dance for 11 years and never enjoyed it, but my mom loved it so I had no choice.

1
Twisterlord•

I love music now but i HATED it as a kid. It pains me seeing how kids treat instruments like its the spawn of satan because how theyre forced to do it by their parents.

If someone truly loves it, then im happy for them, but if they dont its going to risk them never liking music again if theyre going to end up like me, which is sad.

1
The2ndWheel•

There's always going to be external influence, parental or otherwise.

1
Twisterlord•

My parents do this. They made me do many things because they liked it.

Because of them i hate riding the bike, reading, and many other things

1
coup_d-etat19880818•

Chinese parents...

Well, should I be glad because my parents are Chinese yet they act way different from typical Chinese parents? What I mean when I say “typical Chinese parents” is:

  • Forcing their children to learn certain things (for example: musical instruments.) (I play 2 and that's solely my own choice)
  • Forcing a career on their kids (usually jobs in medical industry or law)
  • Forcing interests (Omg I love Chinese music, so I'm going to force my kids to stop listening to EXO and listen to TFBoys instead)
1