Permits for Parents!

The children are the future. They are our legacy. Nothing is more important than the welfare of our children.

Are these just hollow words that we are unwilling to back with necessary action?

The children will inherit the earth. We should bear this in mind.

Parents are responsible for their children’s growth, health and well-being. They shape their future impact in and on the world. And yet, there is not even a bare minimum parental requirement to be met. No knowledge to be garnered. No skills to be mastered. No examples to be learned from.

Nada. People are just born good parents, doncha know. Parenting? A cakewalk.

A plumber is considered to be more of a specialty.

Why is it that we need a permit to take the family dog for a walk, but anyone who can figure out how to fit part A into part B, and keep it there long enough to create part C – will be considered a good parent until proven otherwise?

Otherwise is too damned late, no?

Just because one is capable of creation does not mean that one is willing or able to parent. How many times must this be violently hammered home before even tentative steps are taken? Basic steps. Sensible steps. Lifesaving steps.

There are those who seem to have no moral issue whatsoever with pushing, sometimes forcing, women to bear children that they do not want, cannot afford, and are not psychologically equipped to raise, but,  they have no parallel plan in place to deal with the possible negative consequences of such actions 5, 10, or 15 years down the road. It’s out of their hands, conveniently.

I compare raising a child to the running of a nuclear power plant. Both must be meticulously, patiently, and consistently cared for, from the ground up – or, we may all suffer from the fallout of it’s neglect. Toxic, harmful fallout.

Fallout that can kill.

Best to be proactive and avoid as many predictable future disasters as possible, yes?

Apparently – no.

We seemingly prefer to continue wallowing in that happy, if deadly, place called denial. The place where mommies and daddies fall in love with their babies instantly and on sight. Where parenting skills come effortlessly. Where it is nothing short of instinctual to protect ones offspring. Where everyone lives happily ever after.

Where the constitutional rights of countless future victims are ignored. As are the astronomical future costs involved with being reactive as opposed to proactive.  Costs on both a human and a monetary level.

Where there are no checks or balances before tragedy strikes.

Permits for parents? Maybe it’s crazy. Maybe I’m sitting here simply conjecturing from the ridiculous to the sublime and back again. Certainly wouldn’t be the first time.

Or, maybe we need to start thinking outside of the grey and do something in black and white.

Before all we see is RED!

So, let me see if I’m clear.

Permits: Building permits, parking permits, business permits, zoning permits, insurance permits, taxi permits, gaming permits, pet permits, electrical permits, massage therapy permits, escort services permits, kool-aid stand permits.

Permits: Presumably, to protect the general public from harm.

Do you see where I’m going with this?