Sarah Haynes

10-11-07

P. 6 Psychology

6-Triat Writing

Expository #2

 

          My mom and dad have raised me in a way that I know they can trust me. They have given me valuable information and lessons that will last me a lifetime. When I choose to have children of my own, I will use the way I was brought up as a model on how to raise my own kids. I am very thankful for the way my parents have brought me up.

 

          One thing that I appreciate my mom and dad doing for me was always giving me a choice. As well as all the information that goes along with whatever way I choose to go.

From the beginning my mom had always given me two or three choices so that I could practice making the correct choice. That way when it counted and I got older in my teens I could make the right decision. An example of this would be when I would see a toy at the dollar store, we all know they break very easily, but in my kid mind all I knew was that I wanted it. So my mom would tell me that it would break and I said “No it won’t” so I bought it with my allowance. Then when we got home and I had played with it for a mere five minutes, it broke. After that I was more careful on what I chose to spend my money on. The broken toy wasn’t going to ruin my life but it seeded the history for me on making a choice that could be life-long. Little experiences such as this one that of course became more important as the years went on which helped me develop my critical thinking.  

 

          Another major thing my parents did was talk with me. I always knew and still know that I can talk to them about anything at any time. Along with these discussions my mom and I would watch shows together that are seen as “reality TV” but besides entertainment they are also a great way to see what not to do. For instance one show we watched was Intervention. This show was about people that had some sort of hurtful addiction, whether it was drugs or cutting themselves, none of it was healthy. As a result the family would intervene in a last effort to try and help their loved one. After watching this show a few times I could see how people could become so messed up and how it not only affected them but also their families. Along with the D.A.R.E programs and seeing all the organs and the effect drugs have on them, this show as well as talking with my mom, is the reason why I have never have had the desire to try drugs. Another show we watched was Paradise Hotel. As in any reality show they always have the basic personalities. There’s the guy who thinks that every girl wants him and flirts with everyone and the girls stay away from him. There’s the guy who is somewhat smarter and knows how to mess with the girls head and uses her and so on and so forth. This show allowed me to see how people can allow themselves to get used and how others can take advantage of other people. I could learn from watching what can happen to people without having to go through it and know what the warning signs were/are so that I can make the correct choice.

 

          If I was to think of one word to sum up the way I was brought up it would be, Balance. I believe that there is a balance to everything and my whole life I have been brought up this way. A great example of this would be Halloween candy. A lot of parents put the candy up high like its some magical thing that their kid can only have two pieces a day. My parents never put the candy up because there was no need. To me I saw it just as anything else. I didn’t need to have it. I am sure I had over eaten at some point but I learned from that expieance.  I learned how to manage my chocolate intake, and how I could have something I could enjoy but not over indulge. There was a balance.

 

          As you can see I agree with my parents on how I was brought up, even if I didn’t like something they were doing at the time, I can look back on it and see why. I only hope that I can teach my kids all the important lessons that I have learned and to know that they can trust me. I can only imagine what a challenge it must be to bring a child into this world and know that you have to teach him/her everything as well as the ability to learn on their own. When I do choose to have kids I know that I’ll have all the wonderful conversations with my parents to look back on. I hope I can bring my kids up to have enough experience of making decisions for themselves. So with that practice when a critical crossroad comes along they can draw from the discussions we had so they could make the best choice for themselves at that time. Because of my mom and dad I was able to see and make the better choice on the more critical things because I could see all of the pros and cons and make the best choice for myself. One thing my mom has always said when talking to me was, “I try and tell you everything that I know and tell you my mistakes so that hopefully you don’t have to make the same ones to know that their shitty ones. I can’t stop you from doing what you want; I can only hope that I have helped you make the right decision”.