Parenting targeted

So now the subject in the crosshairs of society’s steady tumble is one that is arguably about as important as any: Parenting.

A couple of weeks ago, United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a warning that basically stated parenting is hazardous to your health. Specifically, Murthy outlined how parenting is bad for one’s mental health and can cause dangerous levels of stress.

“The stresses parents and caregivers have today are being passed to children in direct and indirect ways, impacting families and communities across America,” he said.

In his advisory, Murthy cited statistics from the American Psychological Association that indicate close to half of all parents in the U.S. report overwhelming stress on most days, compared to about a quarter of other adults.

Here’s my take on the issue.

We’re now labeling aspects of parenting that have always come with the territory as potentially “dangerous.” We’re now piling negativity on top of parenting and making it into something undesirable that should perhaps be avoided.

In Murthy’s defense, he did say he is “blessed to be a father of two,” but he also noted how difficult he finds parenting for himself and others. 

Here’s what Murthy didn’t say: It’s not supposed to be easy. It’s supposed to be about educating and nurturing children and preparing them to go out in the world.

Parents are supposed to be “role models” in kids’ lives and steer them in a proper and productive direction. But society’s current prevailing mentality of “tolerance” and “acceptance” have made those things hard – so hard that the negative labeling takes precedence over common sense and logic.

Parents don’t (or in many cases won’t) employ restrictions and discipline the way they used to, and kids are too often allowed to make their own choices and generally rule their environments.

No wonder there’s so much stress involved.

Check out these Bible verses:

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. (Proverbs 29:17)

Discipline, eh? How about that.

Rather than offer family-oriented suggestions or solutions, Murthy lists things government agencies, employers and healthcare professionals can do to support parents. Of course; why provide parents with the material they need to succeed on their own when you can just farm it out to some organization or doctor?

Why do it right when you can throw “systems” or pharmaceuticals at it? Why get to the root of the problem when you can simply treat the symptoms, right?

Again, in Murthy’s defense, he said “raising children is sacred work. It should matter to all of us.”

Roger that. But I feel like he misses the point, which is it should matter enough that we don’t label it as something risky or threatening to people who do it.

Anyway, it occurs to me that anyone who believes in an authoritative population-decrease program or push should take notice of this situation.

Think about it: With an “official” statement being made that parenting is “bad for you,” I’d say it’s inevitable that a significant number of people will heed that warning and stay away from it. And obviously, that means fewer kids, which means fewer humans.

Basically, maintaining the human race is now considered bad for the human race.

Well played.

Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald. Email: ddavison@houstonherald.com.