Why do so many grown-ups have so little respect for little people?

Question

Or so much disrespect for them should i say?

"'1m children' face home violence
Children who witness domestic violence could be badly affected, says Unicef
Nearly one million children in the UK could be living with domestic violence, according to a report by the United Nations Children's Fund, Unicef. "
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4791795.stm
This is not about children being hit or put into cupboards. This is 1 million children that see the nasty side of adults co-existing everyday. Why can't adults be more considerate to children? Is innocence considered a luxury?
And with children i mean anything from babies to 12-year olds. I have seen horrible things like couples arguing for the whole street to hear over a pram. It makes me sick to the stomach.
Ps. I am a parent and it is a fine line but if anyone suffers on an emotional level in our house it's usually the me in the form of a stress headache. Or my partner who gets psoriasis.

Answer 1

people are having children when they are not emotionally mature enough to handle the strains and pressure that parenting can cause, the child is innocent dont get me wrong but people should after having their children registr with a parent support group near to them so they dont feel so alone. my sis is 22 and has a 4 yr old and god knows she hasnt a clue about much but she is doing her best!!

Answer 2

The Children's Act was amended in 2004 to include the definition of harm to be not just if the violence or abuse is aimed at children but if they hear, witness or are aware of violence to others, it causes harm and distress to young people.
This is now government legislation and people don't seem to be able to take this on board.
People believe that if it is not aimed at the children then it is not abuse, but of course it still is. Children are affected when they see their friend arguing, and often these are just little tiffs in the playground. Imagine the harm we are doing to them when they witness the adults around them swearing and being violent towards each other.
Couples will always argue, that's part of life but they need to be aware of the children in the house hold and people suffering from domestic violence need to be given the support to tell someone what has happened or is happening. Children often don't have the coping mechanisms that adults have and may copy what they witness at home, or become withdrawn.
We all need to be aware that it is not just the person we are arguing/fighting with/ hitting, that we are hurting, it is everyone around us too.

Answer 3

Yes this is a big problem, and coming from an abusive childhood myself I can directly relate to your question. It makes me sick to see people hurt children. Not just physically but also emotionally as well. I have been through it and I know first hand the damage it can do to a child and when i see it it fills me with such sadness. How can this problem be solved? I don't know. It may not even be possible, even though people have made these same mistakes over and over it seems that these things will continue to happen for all time. The only thing we can do is to hope the children can learn from the experience they had and not pass it onto the next generation, but it seems the cycle will never end.

Answer 4

big question.. I think as adults we get so involved in our own stuff, we seem to forget that the little ones could be watching or listening, some times people don't realise how much even the smallest child absorbs.. with domestic violence, one parent )often the woman) does try to leave so the children don't get hurt, but humans are by an large egotistical.. the pace of life is so fast, throw away and by an large violent.. we do our best, well I hope i do as a parent.. i will put your question to ,my kids?

Answer 5

I agree domestic violence is abhorrent and should not be tolerated. It does affect kids, but not always in a negative way - my own parents were like cat and dog in private, and it determined me never to behave in that way, and I don't.

That's not the whole answer to your question though. In general, respect is a two-way street. We expect our children to acheive standards of behaviour and morality that are compatible with our own and to co-exist with us in a (relatively) happy home.

In return they expect and require guidance, predictability and (not least) love and affection, security and the odd treat.

The answer is of course is with our old friend Mr. Compromise and his twin Aunties, Tolerance and Patience. The best solutions are the ones where all parties are satisfied. In reality, very few of us give without getting in return and yet we often expect this of our kids. Quite often striking a deal with them gets a much better and positive result than telling them what to do ever does.

Answer 6

I too feel sick to the stomach when I see this kind of behaviour; however if there is one thing i've learnt in my 47-years is the sheer resilience of children to witness quite appalling things and come out relatively unscathed. I couldn't help but think of children in Lebanon in recent days who have witnessed the murder of their parents/ siblings/ grandparents/ friends/ neighbours ... across the world children have been displaced by bombs sometimes with a gun at their heads. That does not in any way excuse the sheer mindless stupidity of the people which you refer by the way.

Answer 7

ultimately it is because people are evil and wicked. bad children grow up to be bad adults and then bad parents. it's not really about respect. it's simply that they are selfish and will do whatever it takes to satisfy their own perverted emotional and psychological needs. often at the expense of children because they are small and weak and unable to defend themselves.

i also have seen firsthand the effects of childhood abuse and torture. it is not something that one can easily forget or get over. but it has made me a better person, more aware of the evils of the world and my own need for salvation. i am a happier more grateful person for it. and i hope to someday be able to use my experience to help children like this who are in serious need of help. and also to become a better mother for my own children.

Answer 8

Unfortunately some children do have horrific upbringings and there is little we can do about it as it takes place behind closed doors. All one can do is lead by example, if your a good parent you will have good children (I'm not saying mine are angels) who will go on to have a positive benefit on society. Bring your children up well and they shall have a positive effect on society as a whole.

Answer 9

It is because children aren't valued. Their innocence is regarded as stupidity. Their loyalty is taken as a right. Few people seem to put their children first.
I think more kids should sue their parents when they grow up. Perhaps we need a shock to make us look at our responsibilities through their eyes.
Certainly kids who are unhappy should themselves be encouraged not to have children until they have undergone treatment to "unlearn" all the things that "my parents did that and it did me no harm!"

Answer 10

children are not considered by adults to b worthy enough for an opinion on anything. altho it is the adult who will b the rolemodel for the child they forget all too easily that this little person is watching them and basing his/her thinking /way of life with wot they are growing up with.
it is sad that as civilised as we lke to think we are, a minority of us are still acting like animals and it is the children who will suffer cos they are just that, children.