Comments on: My Favorite Audience: Exchange Students and Their Parents http://www.mayafrost.com/blog/2009/07/10/rotary-youth-exchange-grand-rapids/ Writer. Mindfulness Trainer. Global Ed Cheerleader. Savvy Gardener. Happy Frugalista. A Former Oregonian Celebrates the Simple Life in Rural Uruguay. Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:45:06 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Maya Frost http://www.mayafrost.com/blog/2009/07/10/rotary-youth-exchange-grand-rapids/comment-page-1/#comment-5825 Maya Frost Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:59:19 +0000 http://www.mayafrost.com/blog/?p=556#comment-5825 Thanks, Cindy! And you are right--I did not really address this in the book but many parents do have the fear that their kids might end up living far from them and feel it's "safer" to have them limit their time abroad to quick vacations with the family. Also, they fear that their kids might "outgrow" them--they may think differently than their parents, adopt new opinions that might be contrary to the way they were taught/raised or may even (gasp!) come to recognize that the US is not necessarily the only place to live. Again, it comes down to choosing fear over love. Some parents understand that their role is to give their kids their best opportunities to live happily in the way THEY choose to do so. Other parents choose to limit their kids' options with the hope that they will remain close by and live a life that is similar to their own. Watch for a post on this local/global concept! ;-) Thanks, Cindy!

And you are right–I did not really address this in the book but many parents do have the fear that their kids might end up living far from them and feel it’s “safer” to have them limit their time abroad to quick vacations with the family. Also, they fear that their kids might “outgrow” them–they may think differently than their parents, adopt new opinions that might be contrary to the way they were taught/raised or may even (gasp!) come to recognize that the US is not necessarily the only place to live.

Again, it comes down to choosing fear over love. Some parents understand that their role is to give their kids their best opportunities to live happily in the way THEY choose to do so. Other parents choose to limit their kids’ options with the hope that they will remain close by and live a life that is similar to their own.

Watch for a post on this local/global concept! ;-)

]]> By: Cindy http://www.mayafrost.com/blog/2009/07/10/rotary-youth-exchange-grand-rapids/comment-page-1/#comment-5738 Cindy Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:00:59 +0000 http://www.mayafrost.com/blog/?p=556#comment-5738 Hi Maya, I read (and loved) your book. I agree with your assessment of the current "helicopter parent" situation. I do think the state of the world (and 911) have had a great deal to do with this, and I agree that travel abroad is one of the best cures for what ails our country. Here's an angle I don't remember reading in your book. (Did I miss it?) Not only do parents want to keep their kids safe, comfy, and happy (and think they know the way to do this), but also I think they are afraid of losing them. You know, "how you gonna' keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen Paris?" They don't want their kids to think about living abroad or to (oh, dread!) fall in love with someone who lives there. What do you think? Cindy Hi Maya,
I read (and loved) your book. I agree with your assessment of the current “helicopter parent” situation. I do think the state of the world (and 911) have had a great deal to do with this, and I agree that travel abroad is one of the best cures for what ails our country. Here’s an angle I don’t remember reading in your book. (Did I miss it?) Not only do parents want to keep their kids safe, comfy, and happy (and think they know the way to do this), but also I think they are afraid of losing them. You know, “how you gonna’ keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paris?” They don’t want their kids to think about living abroad or to (oh, dread!) fall in love with someone who lives there. What do you think?
Cindy

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