GET REAL! (FACE REALITY!)
Human and Family Relationships:
Starting Again from Childhood
by Maria Teresa De Donato**
In an age dominated by technology, a
frenetic pace, and constant connectivity, there seems to be no room for authentic
human relationships and direct interaction. Yet precisely the absence of these elements is
generating a series of increasingly evident social consequences.
The crime news—which overwhelms us every day—testifies that behind
episodes of bullying, youth crime, and even murder, often hides a
single, painful truth: parents and children no longer communicate.
Families are no longer the nucleus of education they once were; the bond has
weakened to the point of collapse.
Many parents are absent, distant, or unable to
provide guidance. When their children commit serious acts, these adults say
things like "We didn't know," "We didn't notice," "We
would never have believed..." Words that ring hollow in the face of the
victims' suffering.
Yet, parents are responsible for raising
their children until they reach adulthood. Leaving them "free rein"
doesn't mean granting them freedom; it means abdicating their role. Raising
them requires presence, awareness, and setting an example.
From an early age, children grow up with a cell phone in hand, and too
often they replicate their parents' behavior, who are also constantly absorbed
in screens. Even mealtimes, once a time dedicated to sharing, are now dominated
by silence, interrupted only by device notifications. A family reunited, yet
separated.
Many children thus end up seeking online
support, relying on unknown followers, often minors, inexperienced, and
unprepared. A painful paradox: unable to count on their parents, they turn to
strangers digitally. And parents, once again, are present yet absent.
Broken families, lonely children
Nursery workers observe this fracture daily. Even before the school
opens—at 6:30 a.m.—parents drop their children off to rush to work. Lunches,
snacks, afternoons: everything is spent at the nursery.
Only between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. does an adult pick them up. At home,
there's just enough time for a bath, a quick dinner, and bed.
But how much real time does a parent spend with
their child? How much do they invest in relationships, listening, and
affection?
It's not just a question of quantity, but above
all of quality.
A warning from history
The Great Roman Empire, the most extraordinary civilization in history,
didn't fall to the enemy: it self-destructed due to moral decadence and
the disintegration of the family.
When the family collapses, society crumbles.
A healthy community is born from healthy,
united families capable of offering love, education, and stability.
Starting from children
It's essential to start from here: from education, from dedicated time, from
emotional presence. Let's talk to our children, play with them, read together,
tell stories, and, why not, let's have them color, stimulate their creativity,
and teach them the basics of reading and writing.
Children don't ask for much. Just love, attention,
and a listening ear.
If they receive all of this, the change is visible. Indeed, it is.
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