Mum pens 'controversial' post after her son changes his toy for Show & Tell

When Stephanie Metz's son changed his mind about what toy to bring in for Show & Tell, she was left feeling angry and frustrated.

Taking to her blog, The Metz Family Adventures, the mum-of-two decided to voice her opinion on the matter and, as she admits herself, she went on "a bit of a rant". 

Titled Why My Kids Are Not The Center Of My World, Stephanie admitted that the piece could be viewed as being "controversial". 

"If you're feeling adventurous today, feel free to read on," she wrote. 

"I'll forewarn you though, this post contains subject matter about which I feel very strongly. As are most emotionally heated issues – I suppose it's controversial. But hey, I feel how I feel and that's not going to be changed."

So what was it that got her so riled up in the first place? 

Well it all started when her son Hendrix chose an action figure with a yellow drill for Show & Tell.

However, he promptly changed his mind, explaining to Stephanie that he was worried his teacher might think the drill is a gun. 

Already worried about the world her boys are growing up in, this particular situation "furthered these emotions for [her]."

"Many years ago, there was a time where young boys could run around with their toy guns, killing the bad guys," she wrote. 

"You could take the toy guns away from the little boys, and they'd find something else around them – a stick, their fingers, etc – and pretend it was a gun. Today, those little boys – if caught doing that – are labeled as threats, and immediate action is taken to remove that threat from the group."

To Stephanie, modern parenting has run away with itself; to her, it's creating a generation that won't be able to function in society. 

"Your child, who you cater to every need, who you shelter from all things "evil." How will this child react when he or she grows into adulthood?  

"'Debbie' graduates from high school and goes to college. She writes her first paper and meets with her professor about that paper and the professor tells her that it's junk and it will get a failing grade. 

"How will 'Debbie' cope with that if she's always been made to feel that no one should ever make her feel sad, or criticise anything she does?"

Sharing her own parenting experience and expectations, the mum, who admits that she is far from perfect, explained that her children are not the center of her universe. 

"These two gentlemen will understand the value of hard work, and know that hard work is required to get where one wants to be in life," she wrote. 

"They will, while understanding the need for caution, appreciate that not everyone out there is out to get them. Not everyone is out to do evil things.  

"These gentlemen will understand that there are about a gazillion people in this world. While they are incredibly special to me and my family, they are not special to the world. That probably sounds terrible, but people!  It's the harsh truth, and it needs embraced!

"I know that I can't change the mindset of modern parents. That's never been and never will be my goal. I just want to make sure that I raise my sons to grow into respectable men who can thrive and succeed, due to having been prepared to do so. 

"My kids are not the center of my world because I love them enough not to allow them to be."

You can read Stephanie's full post here. 

images via Shutterstock