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Iman, Maral, Mahvash, and Saba talk about why most parents in the US ‘kick’ out their kids after 18, but Iranian children stick around until they’re married, especially girls. What if you move away and come back? Have you experience ‘enough’ away to be ok? Some people want to move away, some don’t care. Zeiman comes back after a while to give us some news. Then we end the discussion with the concept of Independence, what does it mean? A few signs that you are independent.
Links mentioned on the show:
Iranican’s Twitter account about to break 1000 followers, Iranican will be at UCLA student organization Iranian Future Leaders Passing the Torch of Success , Persian Carpet: 15 Directors, 15 Short Movies @ Stanford
4 comments
Salaam,
First, I should say I agree with most of what you guys said. Here is my point of view:
If moving out is to escape from the parents, I think it’s not a good idea since later on you may think you can just do the same in your life. Although I think under certain circumstances moving out, splitting, going your own way is acceptable but it shouldn’t be the norm. In other words, I don’t think too much independence is the solution.
Second I personally think that at least my summer time in Tehran has gone completely to waste since I could work in my high school years and learn a lot from the interaction with other people who are not relatives.
I think you should definitely interact with others as well as your parents and family in every combination possible. This will built your personality but at the same time, you won’t break all your ties with family. After all in normal conditions the family should understand you better than anybody else, right?
Thanks for the good discussion.
Reza,
Would you say Americans are not doing the right thing by letting their kids go and live on their own after they are over 18?
Dear Iman,
I do think that the Americans are doing the right thing to let the kids start working while they are at high school, which I believe is the start point for leaving the parents later on, and start their own life. As I mentioned I really regret my summer times in Tehran that was just a waste.
I also think it is very good that the kids have the opportunity to support themselves before getting married and live on their own.
I don’t agree with one of your co-hosts motivation to move out. If I have correctly understood her, this was an escape for her from the parents. Again, I don’t agree with the motivation. To me that means you can easily change who you are with, anytime you feel like it.
I think we agree that there are many relationships (friend, co-worker, neighbor, …) that it’s not the most desirable all the time and in my opinion cutting it should be the last option. You may say this is an optimistic point of view.
I know I have moved away from the subject. Let me finish by saying that I will definitely support my kids to go out at early ages to work and be independent.
Very true, I believe we are on the same exact page on this! WORK is the number one factor, those families who think their 15 and 16 year old “are too delicate” to be doing labor–and this is especially true in Iran–are the ones who end up being ashamed of their kids when they are almost 30 and haven’t had a real job yet!!! And some don’t even realize that’s a problem, for them I have no hope…