Ibtihal Zakout was born in Lebanon. She lived in Mauretania before she moved to Gaza. She came to Norway in 2007.
Bringing up a child is first and foremost the responsibility of the parents. The aim is a good life for the child and knowing the difference between right and wrong. I believe that it’s important that the parents set limits and give good habits to the children.
There are different views about this. In my culture the children get few limits. They follow their own rhythm. When the child is tired, it falls asleep where it is and the parents will carry the child to bed. The child has a lot of freedom, but must also be obedient.
When the child gets older, it will get less freedom. The parents will set limits for the youth and they should follow the rules that are set by the parents for the culture.
If the youth do something wrong, it will be problematic for the whole family. The responsibility towards the family grows bigger the older the child gets.
In other cultures the child meets rules and limits early. The parents will decide when the child will go to sleep. There are often fixed times for sleeping and eating. Slowly the child learns how to make its own decisions.
The parents and the children will reach solutions together. When the child gets more freedom as it grows up. When the son/daughter is a grown-up, the parents will trust that he/she will make right decisions. The children and youth in this culture have the possibility to make mistakes and learn from them. The parents will give advice and set limits. The parents and society will support the youngsters in their gradual disengagement from the family.
Finally I’d like to emphasize that you don’t have to be an expert to understand when the child has difficulties. The most important thing you do is to do something.
- Ibtihal Zakout
Posted on April 23, 2010
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