Do you remember the adults in all of the Charlie Brown TV specials? They were never seen, and when they spoke offscreen, all you heard was, “Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah, Wah.”
Charles Schultz’ point was clear. In this little universe, it was all about the kids. Adults existed simply to accommodate Charlie and his friends, and were only tangential to their lives.
And, this seems to be true in our universe as well. Every day I get in my car to go pick up my children from school. When driving my car at the school, I constantly have to hit the brakes, and be on the lookout, because the kids are oblivious to the traffic. The parents in their cars exist to serve them, and they will be looking out for them, so why be concerned? It seems crazy that a 7th grade boy, weighing in at 100 lbs. soaking wet, with his pants perched halfway down his backside, would stroll insolently across the street, not even acknowledging the 2,000 lb. hunk of metal that has to quickly stop to let him pass. A honk on the horn gets only a disdainful glance. Or perhaps, a quick middle finger to impress his friends. (more…)