NextGen Counseling, PLLC
  • Home
  • SERVICES
    • TEEN COUNSELING
    • COUNSELING FOR ADULTS
    • Our Approach
    • Common Issues
  • COUNSELORS
    • Karishma Ishaq
    • Erin Crandall Payne
    • Jessica Burrows
    • Alyssa Evans
  • COUNSELING RATES
  • SCHEDULE NOW
    • Employment & Internships
  • Forms
  • NEWS & BLOG
Picture

Blog

5 GOING ON 30: CAN A KID JUST BE A KID?

2/22/2014

0 Comments

 
As I watch my 5 year old daughter grow up before my eyes, it amazes me how mature she acts even at such a young age. I remember like it was just yesterday when my husband and I brought her home from the hospital for the first time and now she is 5 going on 30 (in her own mind).  With the amount of technology, social pressure, societal pressure, and even familial pressure prevalent in children and teen's lives nowadays, it amazes me that they even have a childhood. 

With all the messages coming from technology, the media, and child/teen directed advertisement one particular message seems to be coming loud and clear... being a kid is overrated.  More and more teens seem to be wanting to grow up faster and faster because that is the message they are receiving. They always want to be at the next stage in their life because once they get to that point in their minds then they will feel fulfilled. This can mirror how later in life as adults they will not be fulfilled until they have that certain job, salary, house, car... you fill in the blank. Therefore, it is crucial to find joy and self-fulfillment at an early age because that joy will carry on into adulthood.

Sometimes as parents we can be guilty of pushing our kids to grow up before their time.  The next activity, or project, or function becomes more important than enjoying life (and for that matter childhood) itself. I know because I have been guilty of this myself. My daughter was in Ballet, Gymnastics, and we were thinking about putting her in soccer all at once.  We did not ask her if she wanted to be so busy we just assumed that she would enjoy doing all three at the same time. We would pick our daughter up from school and take her directly to either dance or ballet.  She would be exhausted by the end of the day, but there was no room for rest. We would then feed, clean, and do homework before bedtime. My husband and I did not notice at first, but this routine was wearing our daughter out. After we stepped back from the situation and noticed the toll it was taking on our daughter we made a decision to slow down and enjoy childhood a little more. 

All I can say is this, we as parents need to understand and must remember what it was like being a kid.  We must help our kids embrace their inner child because childhood goes by in the blink of an eye. Before we know it, our children are truly all grown up and gone and we don't want them to regret not having a childhood because they were too busy acting like adults. Let's help our kids just be kids before it is too late.
​
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Jessica Burrows

    Archives

    July 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    September 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    April 2017
    October 2016
    September 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

We Would Love to Have You Visit Soon!


Telephone

940-228-2171

Email

jessica@nextgencounseling.org
  • Home
  • SERVICES
    • TEEN COUNSELING
    • COUNSELING FOR ADULTS
    • Our Approach
    • Common Issues
  • COUNSELORS
    • Karishma Ishaq
    • Erin Crandall Payne
    • Jessica Burrows
    • Alyssa Evans
  • COUNSELING RATES
  • SCHEDULE NOW
    • Employment & Internships
  • Forms
  • NEWS & BLOG