What We Teach

What We Teach

By: H. M. Zike

Children aren’t born hating themselves.

Its’ something we teach them.

We teach them,

That if their pretty enough,

Or smart enough

They can accomplish anything.

This simply isn’t true.

We set them up for failure.

Because we only teach them superficial beauty.

Not intellectual beauty,

Not artistic beauty,

Not the beauty of kindness.

We teach them to alter their bodies

Instead of loving them.

We pass on our insecurities.

They are watching as we scrutinize and judge ourselves.

We teach them that happiness comes from without

Rather than within ourselves.

A perfect career doesn’t guarantee happiness.

True love doesn’t guarantee happiness.

Beauty and material possessions don’t guarantee happiness either.

We teach them to be kind

Rather than listen to their instincts.

We scold them we they don’t feel comfortable hugging the creepy uncle.

We get angry when they ask for boundaries.

We tell them that their emotions are wrong.

We give them all the wrong tools.

Then we punish them.

For the very things we taught them.