Mutants or ClonesJeffrey D. Murrah, LPC In a single dose of childrens television, I was bombarded with themes of mutants, cyborgs, evolving and the digital world. These words intimidated me at first, until I learned what the shows were talking about. I wondered how this prepares children for living in the 21st century. The answer hit me when I came across the saying, "Dont Clone...Mutate." For those not familiar with the new language, a few definitions are in order. A clone is an exact replica of the original source. Clones are trained to mindlessly conform. Success and failure are based on how well the clone conforms rather than on the clones accomplishments and abilities. A mutant is someone or something that has changed from the original source. Mutants are evaluated on their abilities and accomplishments. In raising children, some parents behave as if training clones. There are some ways to tell if one is raising clones.
The way to stop cloning is to train children to mutate. To mutate means to be able to adjust to change, to be flexible or resilient, to become an individual. Some of the steps parents can take to individuate or mutate are:
Raising children to change and adapt to change is threatening to some parents, because it emphasizes responsibility rather than control. Adapting to changes means taking the risk of letting go of some of the control. I often use the metaphor that it is easier to steer a car in motion, than one sitting still. Likewise, it is easier to direct your children when they are trying new things, than when they are behaving like a robot.
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