Decent humans are capable of acknowledging the struggles of others. Others who are different from them, others who they disagree with. And this is pretty much the measure of adulthood. Are you capable of taking responsibility for your behavior and are you capable of acknowledging experiences and realities outside of yourself? ...have you realized that the world does not revolve around you?
Discussion
This one hits me this morning. We took in 2 foster kids in March (11 & 13) and have been really struggling lately as the honeymoon is fading. The amount of verbal control they try to exert to 'correct' small things we say, especially our 7 year old, affects the mood of the household. I know it is learned behavior and our acceptance is influencing them. But damn, the process of change is exhausting!
Wow, that's a big task! Very, very fair to be exhausted!
Being a kid is tough. You're smaller than everyone, you can't properly take care of yourself. You're in a very vulnerable position and you know it. For most kids, and especially so if you come from a volatile environment, persuasion/emotional manipulation is the most effective tool that you have.