Why did people feel like this nowadays? Why were they so scared of chastising their kids, of making them listen to reason, explaining that what they were doing was wrong? Mary had not felt for a long time that she was in a position to offer her advice and she wondered when the children, the youngest members of the family, had suddenly acquired so much power that they were more or less laws unto themselves.
In the context of modern parenting, there is a growing fear among adults about discipline and control over their children. Many parents feel hesitant to chastise their kids or impose reasoning, afraid that doing so might lead to conflict or rebellion. This reflects a shift in dynamics where children seem to hold an unexpected amount of authority, challenging traditional roles within the family structure.
Mary contemplates her diminishing role in guiding her children, feeling as if her advice has become irrelevant. She questions the shift in power dynamics, worried about how and when children gained the autonomy to operate by their own rules, leaving her and others in a position of doubt regarding their parental authority.
