The Peter Pan Syndrome
I saw this story over the weekend about a man that actually stabbed himself to get out of going to work (see video clip here)! How incredibly sad that someone would go to such great pain to avoid work!
It made me think of when I was a kid and would pretend to be sick to avoid going to school. It was actually more work to ‘appear’ sick than it was worth, not to mention all the schoolwork was still there the next day…waiting to be done.
Do any of your children put a lot of effort into avoiding their work? Make it a point to teach responsibility even in the smallest of things on a day to day basis. It may not seem like a big deal right now, but the seed of irresponsibility, laziness and lying will only grow if it is not rooted out.
I actually feel sorry for this man, because he does not know what it is to reap the reward of a job well done, even if it is the job of a sales clerk. No matter how small the job is, giving it your all builds self confidence and satisfaction.
Let’s face it,
most work we do on a daily basis will NOT be noticed by anyone,
but the reward is knowing that we did it to the best of our ability
and needed no credit for it!
If we are stomping around insisting that someone be grateful for our work (moms are real good at this) then our focus is totally on self and not others. A self-focused life only makes us miserable because we are dependent on others to appreciate us, make us feel good about our SELF and to give us worth!
Another point about this man in the story; he is 29 years old, wearing his work uniform and riding a skateboard! Not that being that old (I wish I could use the term mature) and riding a skateboard is wrong, it’s just that I don’t know very many MEN that have time for skateboards and then lie about it. On the other hand, I know LOTS of BOYS that live in a man’s body that suffer from the Peter Pan Syndrome! They refuse to grow up and be responsible, they refuse to put others first…after all it is all about THEM!
Comments (4)
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I would like to add a sidenote to this topic. It is important for us to teach our children a good work ethic and also satisfaction in their work. But I also I think it is very important to find and develop their gifts and strenghts so that they can be productive in a way that suits them. I chose a profession that suits me in some ways and not so much in others. It is very practical, always needed and makes enough money that I can completely support my family when necessary (like when my husband was going to school). I am good at my work. And I really hate it. There were days that I felt good about what I had done and satsified but there were many more that were filled with anxiety and resentment. And there were many days that I really had to talk myself into going to work and even MAKE myself do it. Now that I am home more than I work I feel very satisfied with the mundane routine of dishes, housework, homeschooling, carting kids to activities, etc. It is because this is where I really belong and what I am really suited to do. I feel sorry for that man too. Maybe he would be completely different in another job. And yes, there are times when we need to do work that we don’t really want to do. But I don’t want my children to be trapped in a life filled with work they hate. Just my thoughts on this interesting topic!
I am so glad you used the term Peter Pan Syndrome. I have been going off on this particular syndrome for months now and so many people wonder what I am talking about.
Most ladies laugh and say that men will always be like that. It makes me sick. I have two sons who we are raising to purposefully defeat that mindset.
I did not know that there was actually a Peter Pan Syndrome until after I wrote this post. What is even sader is that there are some in the medical field that are wanting to label this as a DISORDER! Ridiculous!!!
When I was a teen growing up – this mindset was greatly encouraged, even in our church youth group. The secret to eternal youth was to never loose touch with your childhood, to never grow up, and keep doing the things that you enjoy doing as a kid.
My husband and I both agreed that we would never “grow up”. The problem is – I did.