Hello to all,

I find the group informative, but I don't often say
anything. However, this subject is one that I can not
be silent on.

Why do we make children "grow up" so fast? Here in
America I see this all the time. There is this craze
where pregnant women are putting headphones up to
their bellies and playing Mozart and other classical
literature. Why? to influence the development of a
child inside. They want that child to be ... smarter,
faster, whatever.... to have a "head start."

Ok, the child is born. Now he/she/it is placed into
surroundings meant to stimulate all sorts of
responces. Colors, shapes, more Mozart...can't fall
behind...everyone else is out there also.....

We pressure the child to learn colors, shapes,
letters, sounds, he/she/it needs to learn to read
before pre-school. Why? So he/she/it can read "War
and Peace" to their friends and discuss it with the
tutors.

Play? No time for that...in addition to brain smarts,
the child must be physically attractive and
competitive. Must be ready for T-Ball at three and be
able to hit a thrown ball at four. He/she/it will
need that scholarship to get into the "right" school
later. Never mind that the child might be a late
bloomer or (gasp) not have the genetic potential to be
great in some area.....on and on.

Is it any wonder that children suffer from depression?
The natural gifts that are evident are often ignored
or out-and-out repressed for the benefit of the
"commercially viable" ones.

We, as adults and members of society, are doing this
to the children. I know that the world is
competitive...but I strongly feel that the best
foundation for competition is a strong foundation of
love and care.

We, as adults and members of society, need to take the
time to be aware and to actually do something. Even
something as "insignificant" as holding a door for a
young child can make a difference.

We need to shut off the urge to compete through our
children and just stop and admire the incredible gift
that they are. Encourage them, help them where
appropriate, listen to them. Let them know that they
are valuable as they are, warts and all.

In other words, on whatever scale is available to you,
consiously work to rebuild the support structure that
we have torn down.

Drew

PS: I am thirty-eight now, I have suffered from
clinical depression since I was five. I was/am
fortunate, I have a family. They are the only thing
that have kept me here.
--- Kate <bicycle@...> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> A letter of mine (a somewhat edited version of that
> which was originally
> published a month or so ago in the electronic
> version of BMJ) was published in
> the hard copy of the British Medical Journal this
> week.
>
> Its called: "Rethinking childhood depression:
> Consider what it means to be a
> child these
> days" and, is at:
> http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7488/418-a?etoc
>
> To send responses to the letter, go to:
>
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletter-submit/330/7488/418-a
>
> I'd be very much interested in your thoughts!
>
> well wishes,
>
> Kate
>
>


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