[Current & Culture]Parents Have a 'Happy Duty' for Their Children

Show Children Happiness as Individuals, Not Just as Parents
Let Them Naturally Find Their Own Path

Last week, I attended the Save the Children Children’s Rights Film Festival held in Ulsan. I watched three films: Whistle, Insect, and Low Voice, and during the second part of the event, we discussed the rights that should be given to children, or rather, the rights that children should have.

The children appearing in the films strive to pursue what they want to do. They want to learn film production, become entomologists, and sing. Their 모습 is beautiful and exciting. However, what blocks their path are their parents. It’s not simply that parents prevent them from doing these things for the sake of their future. In fact, the parents themselves struggle to live their own lives. They show scenes of fighting with each other or inflict violence on the children, preventing the children from moving forward properly.

The life of a child ultimately depends on their parents. The rights of children can begin with what kind of people the parents are and what attitude they live with.

At the film festival, the question arose: “What should parents be to their children?” It would be good if they were someone who could do anything for them. The circumstances such as which brand of apartment they live in or their annual salary will have a significant impact. But there is something even more important. Parents must be happy as individuals, not just as fathers and mothers.

Many parents around me believe that sacrificing for their children makes the children happy. Often, the entire daily life of the primary caregiver is adjusted to the child. However, it is difficult for such parents to be happy as individuals. This leads to unhappiness for everyone. Instead, if parents show happiness and demonstrate to their children that they also have rights, children will naturally grow into happy individuals, advancing their lives and becoming aware of their own rights.

I tell my wife that what is more important than the children is you and us, so rather than trying to make her happy, she should make efforts to be happy herself. That will make everyone happy.

During the film festival, I asked the children whether it was better to ride a bicycle on the path set by their parents or to go alone on an unknown path. At that moment, dozens of children loudly answered, “The unknown path.” Yes, that’s it. When I was a child, riding a bicycle and going on unknown paths to new places made my heart race. That was probably the path to becoming an adult.

The role of parents is not to set the destination and the route. It is to prepare a sturdy bicycle for the children and safely maintain the paths they might take. That is the job of the parents. They are the ones who must take care of the bicycle, not the child. If the child wants to go a certain way, the parent should stand happily in front of that path. The child will naturally enter that path or, even if the path is different, move in the same direction and be able to wave happily to each other.

As an individual named Kim Minseop, I want to be happy first. I want to show that 모습 sufficiently to the children. Then I believe they will grow up well as happy individuals and children by seeing a happy father.

Kim Minseop, Social and Cultural Critic