For many years now, I have been trying to understand why children from Germany and children in Thailand interact with their parents so differently.
I have had the privilege of witnessing scenes in Thailand that were simply heartwarming. Children looking for ways to actively assist and support their parents. In some cases, they continue to help their parents well into old age, rather than immediately shunting them off to a nursing home something which, as in Germany, is not always financially feasible anyway. Yet, I even observed wealthy individuals who took their mothers into their own homes to live with them. It is not always easy, but it is simply the tradition.
As I mentioned, I have been pondering this question for quite some time. So, I exchanged thoughts with my companions at the time some of whom had already been living in Thailand for many years, and they had an answer for me. They claimed that here in Thailand, "puberty" as we know it does not exist, and that the children here are altogether different not nearly as stressful as those in Germany.
Hmm, how could that be?
Why are children in Thailand so affectionate toward their parents, while in
Germany, they seem to rejoice the moment they can finally leave home?
I received the answer to this question just this morning.
And you are not going to like it.
Children in Germany are, in terms of maturity, far ahead of their parents. While the adults are busy annoying one another with childish games, the children already understand the game better than the adults do right up to the point where they, too, can no longer shake it off.
Just like their parents.
They apparently notice how childish their parents are, and then they feel ashamed *for* them.
I had always assumed this was simply a natural developmental process. But that is not the case. Parents should always remain in terms of maturity one step ahead of their children, no matter how intelligent those children may be.
