As a parent, I ask myself the question: Why do we need to relearn? Why do we need to learn about parenting? Why it's important? Two things affect our answer: The past and the future.

All of these questions remind me why I do what I do. It's about the past and future that will affect my choice in the present day. Why do I choose to parent this way? Why I need to learn about parenting. So hopefully, it would help your journey as a parent too. 

The past. 

Do you like your relationship with your parents?

In other words, do you like how your parent does the parenting? Do you have things that you wish it could be different? Do you want to break the generational cycle? Or do you have something that you want to keep on and pass on as a legacy? 

There are things that we must keep on, maintain, and pass on to the next generation. While some other things we must change it. Do you know which one is that?

The Future

The why is always the same, but the how and the what is constantly changing. The way we grow up and our kids grow up is absolutely different. The technology and cultural approach is rapidly shifting. 

Now we live in an era where the tools of information and knowledge are everywhere. The data research shows us what works and what went wrong in the past. 

How many of you realize now that some of our parent's generation's beliefs are based on unhealthy cultural bias? Society taught them to do that based on cultural beliefs. Not so much data and information was available during that period. 

One of the examples is respect. We were taught to respect our parents. That's true and Biblical. But some older generations abused that by not respecting the kids first. Kids must obey whatever their parents say to them. How do kids learn to respect others if their parents don't show them how to be respectful? 

Other examples: saying sorry. We were taught to say sorry when we do something wrong, right? Do you ever hear your parent say sorry when they did something wrong? Did they lead by example? 

School education taught our generation to obey and listen to the leader's words. Do you know that that system was designed 100 years ago to build an army to go the war? So that's why we must obey. And if someone dares to ask a question, sometime you will get punishment or labeled as a rebel. 

Obey and listening are good. But our kid's generation will be dealing with AI and robotic challenges. They will be doomed if we teach them to obey without critical thinking. The next generations need the muscle to think and be creative. Educators around the world nowadays keep updating their methods to prepare the student.

Remember that all the education starts at home, and the parent leads the example. Of course, there is no such thing as a perfect parent. We all have flaws. It's about reflections on what we have received when we are kids. And how to navigate the challenge of the future. Because now it's our turn to be a parent.

So, it leads to another question. Do you realize how important our everyday efforts will make a massive difference for the next generation? Think about the past and the future. Are you willing to learn and reparenting yourself? Remind yourself why you need to educate again. 

The way we grow up could affect the way our parenting. It's unconscious under your deep mind that you will repeat how the way your parent did to you. You may not like it, and swearing will not do the same as the way they did. Knowing is not enough. It's like dirty glass. Knowing that glass is dirty is not enough. We need to fill it with water, take soap, clean it up, and pour it with clean water. So, then you have a clean glass that whatever flow from it will be good. That's why we need to relearn to avoid making the same mistake. It takes intentionality, energy, and time to break the generation cycle. 

We must intentionally relearn and reeducate ourselves again. Which value of life that we want to keep and pass on to the next generation? Which way and system that outdated and not relevant anymore? Do we have the courage to change it? Wisdom and knowledge are everywhere. Our present decisions will affect the next generations' life. 

Are you ready to learn?