‘Paralyzed’ by fear of making mistakes

May 28, 2015

VATICAN: Pope Francis also observed how frequently parents are “paralyzed” by the fear of making mistakes, and hesitate to correct their children.

He recalled an episode from his own life when he had said a bad word to a teacher. The next day, his mother came to the school and made him apologize, and then corrected him at home.

Nowadays, this wouldn’t happen, because too often, a teacher who tries to discipline a child is criticized by the parents, he said.

“Things have changed. Parents shouldn’t exclude themselves from the education of their children…The relationship between family and school ought to be harmonious.”

Pope Francis also cautioned parents against commanding or discouraging their children by asking them to do what they aren’t able to.

When a parent tells their small child to run up the stairs without taking them by the hand and helping them step by step, they are “exasperating” the child, and asking them to do something they can’t.

The relationship between parents and their children should be balanced and founded on wisdom, he said. Children should be “obedient to parents, which pleases God, and you parents, don’t exasperate your children, asking them to do what they aren’t able to. Understood?” --CNA/EWTN