I watched a fantastic documentary last night called “The Kennedy Assassination: Beyond Conspiracy.” It uses computer animation to recreate the assassination with pinpoint accuracy never seen before. The point of the documentary is to argue that only Lee Harvey Oswald was behind the murder of President Kennedy and that there was no conspiracy. This is the greatest documentary on this topic that I’ve ever seen.
A Desperate Need to Feel Important
The documentary also reveals details about Lee Harvey Oswald’s life of which most people are probably unaware. This misfit Oswald had an overwhelming desire to be important. From the time he was a young child, he was on a personal quest to be different, to stand out in the crowd, and to gain attention for himself. This desperate need to feel important eventually caused him to plot the murder of several government leaders, and he also considered hijacking an airplane. When President Kennedy’s parade route was made public, and he learned that it would pass right by the building where he worked, Lee Oswald felt like fate had finally insured his destiny. Surrounded by police and television cameras when he was apprehended, Lee Harvey Oswald almost seemed to behave in a gleeful manner. He was gloating. The world was finally paying attention.
When a Mother Disconnects From Her Child
One of the things that stood out for me during this documentary was an interview with Lee Harvey Oswald’s brother. His brother stated on camera that Lee Oswald was a lonely boy who had always wanted to be unique. He added, “Our mother was constantly telling us that we were a burden to her.” She was apparently cold and disconnected from her sons.
I certainly wouldn’t want to lessen Lee Oswald’s responsibility for President Kennedy’s horrific death. However, I couldn’t help but wonder how things might have been different—how history could literally have been transformed—if this mother had simply let her son know he was important to her. What if she had showered him with praise and adoration, constantly telling him that he was the light of her life? Would he have still had this inner hole, this tremendous void of emptiness, which he felt compelled to fill? Would he have still grown up to be an assassin? Personally, I’m doubtful. If you research the life histories of most assassins or serial killers, I’ll bet you will find this same disconnect between mother and child.
A Mother’s Impact
Would I be too bold if I said I believed that mothers, more than anyone else, shape the course of history? A mother has a tremendous impact on her children and their self-esteem. A child sees himself through his mother’s adoring gaze, her comments, and her affection or lack thereof. In a previous blog I described how Thomas Edison, a child who struggled in school and eventually left school altogether, was buoyed up by the confidence his mother had in him. He was so inspired by her that he was eventally able to accomplish great things which changed technology forever. He attributes it all to his mother’s love and devotion. Likewise, James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader and CNN, who stuttered throughout his childhood, also states that his mother’s belief in him caused him to rise above his challenges and become a voice known throughout the world.
Do You Recognize the Impact You Have on Your Child?
Of course these examples are at the farthest ends of the spectrum. But I ask you, do you parents recognize the tremendous power that you have over your children’s lives? Do you realize that the confidence you express in your son or daughter can provide the inner-strength he or she needs to overcome trials, or at least face them with courage? Do you recognize that your hugs, your words, your smiles, and your reassurances have a forceful impact? The love you express to your child is the fuel which will drive him to achieve his greatest potential.
Watch your angry words. Watch your hurtful comments. Be careful that you only express disappointment in behaviors and not the child himself. Notice the positive. Be upbeat and hopeful. Expect greatness. You will make an incredible difference.
Kristyn Crow is the author of this blog. Visit her website by clicking here. Some links on this blog may have been generated by outside sources are not necessarily endorsed by Kristyn Crow.
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