Parental Disobedience

There seems to be a negative connotation to this title. If I say civil disobedience, does that sound more heroic? Worthy of your attention? After all disobedience pioneered the civil rights movement, and Rosa Parks was etched in history as the 'ideal rebel'.

As a parental figure however, the ideal falls nowhere near a rebel. Defined by dyed hair, piercings, tattoos, revealing clothes, a drugged alcoholic teen; this is a parent's worst nightmare. But in most cases, nightmares don't come true. We merely see a mild version in our lives, like our vulnerability displayed in forgetting our homework instead of our clothes. Though, these connections are never really made. Seeing a child however, staying up late can instantly drive a parent's mind to this unholy image of a rebellious child. But why?

Our fears at night are far too unrealistic to ever come true, but seeing the slightest bit of reality resemble our deepest horrors...is concerning. So how does a parent naturally respond? More rules. Tighter regulations. Harsher punishments. In return, what does a child do? Amplify their disobedience, and perhaps maybe now they'll try getting a tattoo. In short, the parent has fed their fears and in doing so, have brought them to life. 

In a larger scale scenario this situation is equally predictable. Citizens protest on unfair laws, practices, or treatment, peacefully in some cases. Dodging negotiation in fear of chaos, the government intimidates them, and often executes their threats in the form of violence, or abusive punishments. The response? Not protests, but now riots. 

Disobedience in any form is best confronted and understood, not avoided.