We currently live in a society that overexposes, over stimulates and under delivers. Social media has completely changed the perception of reality. Men and women aren't on the same page but we never are and perhaps its because of childhood expectations.

I was speaking with another parent on my plane ride to Iowa about his sons and my daughter. His wife went through a lot to get pregnant and they currently have two sons but would love to have a daughter. He was discussing how differently he raises his sons verses his neighbor who has two daughters. That alone sparked a two hour long conversation about gender equality and expectation. Why is it that we teach women to nurture and love, and men to be aggressive and sometimes violent. Yet the idea is that men and women are to be together naturally? That alone is a confusing contradiction of basic logic. A lot of people live in a fear of what if, what if I let my son play with a doll, will he be gay? What if I let my daughter play sports, will she be a lesbian?

This uneducated notion of what something different from us might possibly cause, often causes people to raise their children in fear. In reality we need to be raising our children in love, because that will transcend to a greater understanding of self and others, beyond fear and ignorance. People always have a expectation from adults, an unrealistic expectation at that. Age does not determine maturity or acceptance, experience and education are the answer to that problem. Perception is reality, and the more we perceive and the less we know, the more we will lack understanding and compassion for others.

I only have one child and I spend a lot of time analyzing her behavior. I notice the very moments when I have the opportunity to help mold her into greatness and I take them. Our daughters and sons are constantly watching us, we need to be watching them. Those moments when your son is being extra aggressive, he isn't just being a boy, he is being aggressive. Correct that behavior before it manifest itself into his permanent personality. Those moments when your daughters are lessoning themselves for friends, immediately correct that behavior. Your daughter could be learning a terrible habit of dimming her own light for the comfort of others. This works both ways, because boys and girls carry the same behaviors and are taught to change them based on society norm.

We have to spend more time learning and understanding what peace and happiness mean. Then encouraging our children to live in a manner that projects and protects that very notion. Wherever you or your parents fell short is exactly where you need to close the gap with your children. We cannot expect this world to get better if we do not invest the time to change it. Parenting is a gift, its not just something you use to post cute pictures on social media. These are actual humans that will grow up to contribute to the peace or destruction of this world. Be a living example.

@AshleySirah