PSA: We've Been Screwing Up Our Kids Forever, So Stop Blaming Parents

Whitney Fleming, a mom of three girls, has a message to parents: despite all the arguing going on right now, our kids are the future. She shared her perspective in a Facebook post, and yes, every parent should have the same come-to-Jesus moment.

"This is the future. It's my three daughters. And your kids, too. I've heard a lot of blame and finger pointing at parents lately, and it makes me sad. I mentioned it to my 76-year-old mother the other day, and she responded: 'We have been screwing up our kids since the dawn of time.'"

As parents, there are always those among us who are alcoholics and drug abusers. Violent and mentally disturbed. Neglectful and selfish. Tiger-moms who push our kids to their limits and dads who won't be a part of their children's lives. Nothing and everything has changed for our kids. They face a myriad of challenges in this world that must seem insurmountable to these young souls. It is a lot of weight on these tiny shoulders. I think the same was said to our generation, and the one before that."

While it's in most moms' nature to want to protect their children 100 percent of the time, Whitney knows that it's more important now than ever to remind her daughters that they shouldn't be afraid of speaking up.

And although I would like to shield my girls from every bit of evil and every shade of darkness that threatens them, I know the time is coming that they'll have to face this world on their own. I can think of no greater time that we should allow our kids to be part of the process, to be part of the discussion of THEIR future than in this moment. There is nothing they can learn in a classroom that will surpass the education they will receive by participating in our government, by standing up for what they believe in, by using their voices.

She signed off by explaining that if we do one thing for our children, we should support them and make sure they know that their opinions and actions matter.

"Don't silence these kids. Don't tell them their actions won't make a difference. Don't punish them for wanting to engage. Don't make them feel unimportant," she wrote. "Let the voices of our children be heard, and let's do the unthinkable; let's listen to them. And if your children do not feel their views are represented, show them how they can be a part of the process. Write letters, donate funds, volunteer, canvas neighborhoods, sign petitions — show them how to speak up for what they believe. This is a photo of the future. And I'm listening to them."