My oldest daughter, heading towards her leaving cert, has started to ask us “What countries would be the best to move to?” The question from her, came out of the blue but in truth, it was something we sort of expected, sooner or later. There is no “if” she should go! She knows she must go.
.
The topic was part of ongoing school conversations between many of her age and outlook. It wasn’t a topic that was talked about one day and moved away from, the next. The conversation is regularly returned to in her school.
.
We (wife and myself) were honest with her. We suggested the best places to go to. We understand her predicament. If she stays in Ireland, she faces a daily struggle just to get through a life, never mind have soar in a decent life. Each past generation has faced their own struggles but in todays modern world, there seems to be an increasing amount of issues that will immediately hit a teen just as soon as they walk out of school gates for the last time. WALLOP!!!
.
High prices in everything, vultures taking their homes, vulture exploitation on rents, health system in constant war condition triage crises, a government constantly financial raping them, a government screwing them in favour of big businesses, a state being made part of a CETA privatisation agenda, a government wanting to pressgang them into cheap labour (via JobPath and similar) and steal, then illegally share their personal info to private companies (cue even more exploitation), a legal system full of questionable judicial decisions, corrupt local and national elected, lack of homes to buy, lack of affordable places to rent, a government destroying the national transport system when not giving away fishing rights, a government giving away national assets and a once existing neutrality, a government that’s regular devoid of reality as it imposes more carbon taxes, fuel taxes, VRT (still EU illegal) taxes, water recharges, on top of other 46+ taxes – then there’s other levies, stamp duties and charges (or multiple recharges) on everything that exists…
.
…Then we have biased media, national and locally (including a radio station), that won’t report the full facts or truth… How can our offspring be able to better protect themselves when government and media won’t help, just be an instant further burden!
.
Did past generations face such a immediate bundle of troublesome weigh at 17 or 18 years of age?
.
All this and more, faces our young daughter when she completes her leaving cert. It’s absolutely no wonder that she wants to leave Ireland. We 100% cannot blame her.
.
She attends a great school. They teach a range of topics, some that will be used later in life. Should the school now be preparing them also for leaving Ireland? I doubt that would be allowed by the government. Officially, some staff are supposed to prepare their students for life in Ireland but given the modern realities, maybe their also should be aiding them to more move away too? At least, like us at home as parents, exploring options for our daughter in more detail! Our daughter leaving Ireland, will not be on her own soon. Best to prepare them even more now, though many ways and institutions as possible?
.
It’s obvious to our daughter that the old parties of Ireland are not up for changing their core, corrupt ways. They are not up to the job of fixing many things, even after decades of being in charge. They aren’t able to stop being greedy or illegal acting. They act with unaccountability. They say one thing, then do another, themselves. Our daughter sees this, plus more, and has decided not to be another victim of their exploitation antics. Again, we do not blame her. We admire her bravery and already awareness of current realities, facing her generation.
.
We don’t want her to go. It will kill us to see her go. We will worry every day. However, we love her. We want her to live a good life, not be daily abused in a non-stop, exploitive, expensive life.
.
Truth is, if we could go with her, we likely would. Some day in the future we will kiss, hug and say goodbye near airport gates. I don’t look forward to that day but when that day comes, we as parents won’t be on our own, saying “Bye” to those we love. Her three brothers and two sisters will possible follow her. That is the future of many parents today. Truth. It’s because we love them, we will aid their going – even though it will quietly kill us inside. We only want the best for those we love.
Safe trip daughter. We love you.
