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Article Missy Higgins shares her crippling fears for children in today’s world

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Missy Higgins asks, “Are there any other parents out there that have this anxiety that I have about the unknown, potentially catastrophic future that may be in store for our kids? “

Born Melissa “Missy” Morrison Higgins, the Australian singer-songwriter, musician and actress, has revealed she is crippled with fear for children in today’s world.

A mum herself, Missy gave birth to a boy, Samuel Arrow Lee, in January 2015.

Sharing on Facebook Missy writes, “For some time I’ve been intermittently crippled with anxiety about the notion of bringing kids into a world that seems more volatile and more uncertain than ever. Are there any other parents out there that have this anxiety that I have about the unknown, potentially catastrophic future that may be in store for our kids?

I honestly don’t know what to do with these feelings. It makes me want to cry on a regular basis when I read about the irreversible things we’ve done to the Earth and what it will almost certainly mean for the near future. Scientists are saying we are pretty much at the point of no return now. I was told at a humanitarian event last night that my child’s generation will probably not reach retirement age. It took everything I had to squash that thought down for the duration of the evening so that I didn’t run home in tears.

But according to the smartest people IN THE WORLD, we are hurtling towards terrifyingly unknown territory as far as environmental disaster goes, that any day now we will reach a tipping point like we could never imagine in our worst nightmares. This is dark and horribly uncomfortable stuff (not to mention sickeningly guilt-inducing as far as parenthood goes) to think about, I know. But it’s actually fucking happening. So surely it’s important not to shy away from it if we are to truly try to do something about it? If it’s not too late?

I can’t be the only person out there losing sleep over this. Please speak up if you are too!”

Parenting expert Steve Biddulph replied to Missy writing,
“Dear Missy – I feel this way all the time. Hope is really the only way to continue, as we can never know what will turn the corner, or make the difference – and most likely it will be from all our efforts adding up. We can’t afford complacency, but we can’t afford despair either. That leaves only a brave, laughing, resolute line to walk. I hope my work helps you, yours certainly helps our family, Warmest, Steve Biddulph”

Do you have similar fears to Missy?

Share your comments below.

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Comments

  • No not really. There is a lot of good in the world and one computer modelling will be entirely different to another’s. As far as the children are concerned, they may never aspire to what you felt they should or they may exceed your wildest expectations – as long as they don’t get involved with drugs, I’m sure they will turn out just great.

    Reply

  • Even more relevant following the changing climate with Brexit and the US election.

    Reply

  • Yeah, I do have some concerns regarding the futures of my kids. Will they be happy, will they find lasting love, will they have all they need. But nothing too extreme and I don’t obsess over it

    Reply

  • No – I do not have these fears. I am positive and see a lot of good around me and in the world. Sadly, mainly the ‘bad stuff’ is reported on the news and on social media sites. There is ‘bad stuff’ going on in the world. I live in way that makes a change, we have to live the way we want the world to be. I want a world that is positive, kind and fair and I model this for my children. They need to see that adults are positive and going forward with ideas and living a good life. Children do not need to see fear, commonsense, yes, about what is a reasonable fear such as being careful and taking precautions when crossing the road. But they should not be afraid of their future or this world.

    Reply

  • No, these things don’t cause me sleepless nights. Things closer to home do cause me sleepless nights though (a conflict with a friend, the death of a loved one, serious sickness in the family, things like that).
    Sure we live in not the most easy time and we live in an imperfect world, but there’s always hope and love….Hope & love are much stronger then hardships, I can lift us up.

    Reply

  • Our children have found it very hard to cope with some of the tragic events they hear about from others. Things are not improving. Despite what we are supposed to believe the crime rate is rising. Employment is coming a bigger issue because of robotic equipment in the manufacting industry. While computers are creating some jobs others are being wiped out because of them. Young ones are doing TAFE and University Courses because there is supposed to be staff needed and a shortage when they start them. When they’ve finished them there are no jobs available the the kids are left with a huge HECS debt. Our Health System is a shambles. Will it improve??

    Reply

  • I must admit that there are times that i too have anxiety about my children’s future but i think its during their now that we need to try our hardest and to the best of our ability to make them stroing and resilient so they can face all of lives challenges.

    • Teaching our children to be strong and resilient is the best thing we can do for our children.

    Reply

  • Interesting – food for thought – I am a big believer on teaching my kids to be strong and brave no matter what is put in front of them be it brocolli, a math test or the unknown future – I think right now it is our jobs as parents to teach them personal strength, coping mechanisims for stress, anxiety, etc and how to hold their head up high in every situation. I also try to teach my girls to learn who real friends are and who fake friends are and encourage them to have strong bonds with their friends. – It’s a hard time for everyone and there is no going back to the way it once was when we grew up – but maybe like everything that type of childhood might come around again when our children have children – we can only hope.

    Reply
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