“Mom, I think I want to die,” my 10-year-old son declared flatly during our drive to soccer practice.
If it were any other child, I might have pulled over immediately. But this was Max, my eldest. So, without even lowering the volume on the upbeat playlist he had created, I shifted into Cool, Composed Mom mode. “Oh? Can you tell me more about that?”
“I just don’t want to deal with the world falling apart.”
Taking a cue from my parenting podcast, I asked him to elaborate. What followed was a passionate, albeit somewhat exaggerated, explanation of climate change through the lens of a ten-year-old contemplating his future.
In his stream of thoughts, Max brought up melting ice caps, heat waves, floods, droughts, and yes, cow emissions.
What a relief, I thought. This isn’t about self-harm; it’s about the planet’s impending doom.
For context, Max lives a comfortable life in a spacious suburban home with a father in tech, a mother who once taught, three younger siblings who look up to him, and a library of Disney films. His biggest grievances are usually sharing a room with his brother, trumpet lessons, and having to squash bugs.
Usually, Max is bursting with plans for the future. He’s shared dreams of marriage, having two kids, living in a penthouse in New York City with his favorite cousin, owning a pet fox, and becoming a WWE champion.
I love that vision for him.
However, for about fifteen minutes last Monday, he grappled with whether his future was worth sticking around for, and it broke my heart.
As parents, we often learn to maintain a façade of normalcy while our hearts ache. I’ve been navigating parenthood for a decade now, and this wasn’t my first emotional rodeo. I tucked my feelings away, ensuring my reflection in the rearview mirror matched that of the composed mom. I started talking to Max about what climate change could mean for him as an adult.
“If nothing changes,” I explained, “the levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will keep rising. The average temperatures will increase, which may seem small, but even slight changes can have significant impacts.”
I painted a picture of a world where our family firefighter, Uncle Joe, would be constantly away battling wildfires. I described how climate change would lead to more mosquitos, worsening allergies, and the potential for more severe asthma attacks for his cousin.
As we parked, I continued outlining how climate change could lead to less snow and rainfall, resulting in dwindling water supplies, intense heat waves, and rising sea levels causing flooding. “This will hit those who are poor or elderly hardest,” I added, trying to keep my tone steady.
The more I explained, the harder it became to keep my emotions at bay. The reality felt overwhelming; yet, I needed to remain calm for him.
I turned to Max, who was getting ready for practice, and reassured him: “No matter how tough life can get, it’s worth living. You only get one chance at it, Max. There’s so much joy mixed in with the chaos.”
He nodded but shrugged as he grabbed his soccer ball and dashed toward his teammates. “Yeah, but adults really messed things up for us.”
I get it, kiddo. I understand the weight of what I’ve brought you into.
Our children are growing up with Disney mantras, reminding us to “just keep swimming” or “do the next right thing.” But what exactly are we expecting our kids to swim through? And why have generations of adults often neglected to do the next right thing?
Across the globe, young activists are calling for action to secure a more hopeful future. In September, 400 young leaders gathered in Milan for the Youth4Climate meeting, where they crafted recommendations for the upcoming Climate Change Conference.
Despite their efforts, the feeling of skepticism permeated the conference, as voices like Ugandan activist Vanessa Nakate pointed out the urgency for real action now, not just promises for the future.
To put it simply, my son isn’t asking for the impossible. He just wants a livable planet.
And let’s be clear: Adults need to stop failing our children.
For more insights on climate change and the necessary actions, visit the excellent resource provided by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
To stay engaged, check out our other blog posts like this one and learn more about this home insemination kit.
Search Queries:
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In summary, my son’s candid question about the worth of his future revealed the heavy burden many children carry regarding our planet’s state. Despite the challenges, it’s essential to remind them that life is still full of joy and possibilities, and that we, as adults, must do better for the generations to come.
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