Christine and I sometimes worry that we're bad parents, but really, what if we're actually good parents? Wouldn't that be even worse?
I mean, if we're bad parents, that's basically a private tragedy. Tilo will grow up maladjusted and antisocial. He'll maybe develop substance abuse problems, or be tried as an adult for setting a tram stop on fire. We'll face the disapproval of our peers. Whatever, right? But at least we'll have the solace of knowing that we're pretty much alone, that other parents raised their children competently. We'll be living in a society comprised of emotionally stable, public-spirited citizens, the kind of society that could reasonably incarcerate Tilo as a menace. I mean, he is a menace, right? Have you seen his room?
But what if, relatively speaking, we're the good ones? What if most other parents are even worse than we are? Honestly, from what I see day to day, I don't think that's so far-fetched. And then it doesn't really matter how responsible and well-adjusted Tilo is, right? Then the world is completely fucked.
Scary thoughts.
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