Today please welcome C. Nonimous, our very first GUEST WRITER! I hope you enjoy it…and if you’d like to contribute with a post or two, please DM me!

Introduction

We’re thrust into this big mysterious world with a yelp of surprise and a pat on the back. Welcome to the world little earthling! It’s time to start your journey, but what have mommy and daddy packed for your camping adventure?

The More You Know

Did you know that what women eat during pregnancy can affect their unborn child’s health later down the line? Pregnancy brings about all kinds of changes to women and one that is commonly joked about are the food cravings. A weekly trip to Outback for that oh so familiar 18 oz rib eye and order of bloomin onion may be bliss for you, but it could cause your unborn child’s BMI to shoot up quicker than the Maverick P-51 in Top Gun just as they hit their sensitive tween years. You’ll be dealing with crash diets and fat tears for years to come.

The Society Page

That study was published by Dr. Carmen Monthé-Drèze in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2021 minus the crash diets and fat tears of course. It’s an interesting study and it brings to mind the age-old argument of nature versus nurture. How much of our parents shape who we are?

I think more than we realize, and both nature and nurture play an essential part. Americans are taught to be so independent that it almost seems like they gave birth to themselves, decided on their own genetic material, and raised themselves. Although the first two points are ridiculous, the last point may not be too far from the truth. Many parents are no longer raising children to be the men and women of tomorrow. Instead, parents are asking their children to make decisions like they are the Dalai Lama with centuries of experience from their past lives. Should we have candy or broccoli for dinner? Should our group walk shoulder to shoulder down the sidewalk so that nobody else can use it? Should we yell at people for not agreeing with us or actually listen to what they’re saying?

Instead of teaching children the importance of these decisions and their consequences to society, the actions are thoughtless and reflexive. Bad actions are then justified online, create a following, and become the new norm. These new norms are creating a society of irresponsible grown children. It’s no wonder that the young adults of today feel so entitled to getting a raise and promotion for laboriously showing up at work to do the minimum for a whole year. 

There’s Hope

As earthlings, let’s be better for the generations after us. I believe that parenting, unlike drive-thrus, is difficult and mostly thankless. That said, having children is a choice that comes with a mountain of responsibilities. Every time I see a parent telling a child to move to the side so that other pedestrians can walk, it brings a smile to my face. It’s because that one small action reveals all of the other small actions those parents are doing. I see hope and it’s like I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day. Let’s create more smiles and more sunshine.