We all say we want our kids to be happy, only happy, and healthy, but we don't want that. We want them to be like we are, or better than we are. We as humans are very unimaginative in that sense. We aren't equipped for the possibility that they might be worse. But I guess that would be asking too much. It must be an evolutionary stopgap - if we were all so specifically, vividly aware of what might go horribly wrong, we would none of us have children at all.
This quote prompts deep reflection on the paradoxes inherent in parental aspirations and human nature. At the core, it exposes a fundamental contradiction: on one hand, we outwardly wish for our children to find joy, health, and fulfillment; on the other, we secretly or subconsciously desire them to mirror or surpass us, which can impose limitations or expectations that hinder true freedom for their individuality. The recognition that humans are often unimaginative emotionally highlights our collective tendency to project our fears, insecurities, and desires onto the next generation. There's an underlying acknowledgment that we avoid contemplating the worst possible outcomes because such awareness might deter us from taking the vital step of having children altogether. Our evolutionary instincts seem to favor optimism or perhaps denial, serving as a stopgap to preserve the species, even if it entails willful blindness to potential vulnerabilities. This tension between hope and fear, expectation and acceptance, shapes how we raise children and how we view our own legacies. It also raises philosophical questions about whether true unconditional love can exist when our expectations unconsciously influence our nurturing behavior. Ultimately, the quote invites us to examine the layers of complexity, vulnerability, and self-preservation woven into parenthood and human evolution. Recognizing these patterns could foster a more genuine, less constricted approach to parenting—one rooted in acceptance of uncertainty and a sincere wish for our children’s authentic happiness, unburdened by our projections or fears.
