July 4th is past. In the run-up to the holiday I saw two things in dynamic tension. Fireworks stands and social media posts about how fireworks are unnerving and frightening to small animals.
I’ve always loved fireworks and my childhood experiences with them are testament to the influence of parental prayers and guarding angels. I have both eyes and all of my fingers.
But I am sympathetic to the argument, having owned dogs who did not like storms, gunfire or explosions.
However, I wonder. In an age of increasing anxiety among the young, what is it that distresses the children? Would that we worried about them as much as we seem to about dogs and cats.
For instance, it is clear that social media is hard on kids and that phones are, on the whole, bad for them. The content can be violent or sexual and can scar children deeply.
The news media, ever eager for clicks on advertisements, often run terrifying tales of modern events, and beat their drums loudly and endlessly, whether the topic is violence or COVID or the environment.
I would also submit that exposure to mostly naked adults in public might be uncomfortable for children, especially when it is done at parades and is clearly done in a sexualized manner. They aren’t ready for that.
As we ponder how to care for the beasts, I submit that should ask ‘how shall we care for the children?’
What are your thoughts, dear readers?
PS
Sorry I’ve been absent. I just worked a lot of shifts in a row. On the other hand, I now have a lot of things to talk about.
As a kid, I too used to enjoy lighting off fireworks in our back yard. They had become more restricted when our kids were young, but they loved being taken to the big July 4th fireworks displays in town. It's true that that most dogs and small children are frightened by the noise made by exploding pyrotechnics., but now it seems that we're living in a time when children are exposed to the pop-pop-pop of assault rifles and bodies mutilated by 5.56 rounds fired deliberately into holiday gatherings. Now that is distressing to kids and adults!
My girls 11/8/7 are scared of adolescence (will it hurt?) rashes (will I be deformed?) and when our 13 yo westie will die. Now that I think about it, they are fearful of death and dying. The little one woke me up in the middle of the night freaking out that “something is in my eye— will I go blind?” They are scared of holding sparklers but love fireworks.
Oh that we as a society would care for our children as much as society worries and cares for its animals. Children are daily exposed to more and more issues, sex, and language that should be reserved for at a minimum in high school.
As a kid, I too used to enjoy lighting off fireworks in our back yard. They had become more restricted when our kids were young, but they loved being taken to the big July 4th fireworks displays in town. It's true that that most dogs and small children are frightened by the noise made by exploding pyrotechnics., but now it seems that we're living in a time when children are exposed to the pop-pop-pop of assault rifles and bodies mutilated by 5.56 rounds fired deliberately into holiday gatherings. Now that is distressing to kids and adults!
Mostly naked adults are bothersome for adults! I believe all the things you mentioned are wearing on adults as well as children!
My girls 11/8/7 are scared of adolescence (will it hurt?) rashes (will I be deformed?) and when our 13 yo westie will die. Now that I think about it, they are fearful of death and dying. The little one woke me up in the middle of the night freaking out that “something is in my eye— will I go blind?” They are scared of holding sparklers but love fireworks.
Oh that we as a society would care for our children as much as society worries and cares for its animals. Children are daily exposed to more and more issues, sex, and language that should be reserved for at a minimum in high school.