How to Not Raise A Greta by Joel Hirst

by Vanderleun on February 10, 2020

Novelist and essayist (and one of my favorite writers and reviewers ) Joel D. Hirst is raising one squared-away kid

I am preparing my son for the enduring marathon of significance. Not the instant ephemeral flash of fame;

I am not raising a Greta. It’s not really right; in fact the tragedy of that train-wreck sometimes takes my breath away. Life is sad enough, hard enough, and with more bitterness and frustration all of its own to foist it upon little minds un-prepared. Its like robbery, a thief in the night stealing away the great joys of life; beauty unimaginable and the satisfaction of small acts of discovery in preparation for the tremendous triumph of achievement long fought and well won, if we ever get there; but even if not, the realization which comes with wisdom in knowing that there is happiness to be found in the journey and rewards even in a struggle unsung.

With my boy, we’ve decided to guide him along the rolling road of wonder as we introduce him slowly and methodically to our amazing world, a world he will call home for the next seventy or eighty years. We fill his days with curiosity – and experience the joy as he returns to us the marvels of the universe!! We romp around under the African sun hunting for geodes (which I seed into the rock-beds – something I may or may not ever tell him); “Nigeria has a lot of geodes,” he tells his grandparents, and we nod and grin.

RTWT AT Joel D. Hirst’s is raising a squared-away kid

Comments on this entry are closed.

James ONeil February 10, 2020, 10:57 AM

“… hunting for geodes (which I seed into the rock-beds – something I may or may not ever tell him)”

When my kids were still counting their ages in single digits, I first started taking them on annual hikes to the top of Rainbow Mountain (elevation 6411 feet) on the 4th of July to bring down snow and make orange juice snow cones to slurp next to the Delta River.

I let them discover for themselves seashell fossils (not seeded) high atop the mountain, in the middle of Alaska, hundreds of miles from the sea, to their great delight.

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ghostsniper February 10, 2020, 2:20 PM

A proper parent today does this first and foremost, NEVER let them become prisoners of the debilitating gov’t education system. If you do, they are doomed.

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Terry February 10, 2020, 5:12 PM

Broadcast television, in my opinion is just as damaging as .gov schools. And it does not matter the age of a person who watches the sh*t on the tube. The virus flowing out through the glass causes incurable mental retardation.

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ghostsniper February 10, 2020, 7:28 PM

school age kids are doing both
they won’t survive

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