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| Some of the best talks happen over ice cream! |
By the time they hit the teen years there will be so many influences drawing their focus away from their parents.
I can see it already with Brady and he's only 7. There are things he hears at school I thought wouldn't come up for years. Like, "What's a hickey?" and "What does sexy mean?" ACK!
And bloody violent zombie games.
As parents, we have to be consistent every day in what we teach about our beliefs, what's important and how life should be lived. At age 2 or 4 or 8 or 12, ingrained day after day until it becomes second nature to them.
They may move away from it, but even if they do it will remain inside them, waiting for them to come back.
But wait too long and it will be too late. I believe our kids look to us to give them that foundation, a solid base from which to launch and to which they can return when life knocks them off balance.
Think about everything you want them to learn: about friends, family, God, eating, health, learning, nature, kindness, compassion and caring. What do you want them to know about marriage and relationships, about raising kids, about littering or smoking or drugs.
Tell them. Tell them now. You cannot control their choices in life but you can make darn sure they know where YOU stand on things. If we don't tell them and show them, the world will fill in the gaps with its own ideas.
So thank you, Ma. I'm doing my best.
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So true and so important to be teaching our kids our beliefs. I know my husband is very into apologetics and definitely wants to teach it to our daughter as well. She is only 11 months old so we have time, but time goes by so quickly! Even now, we pray before meals and at bedtime. She knows and will fold her hands with me and says her version of "amen" at the end of each prayer! So cute, but also reminds me of how impressionable they are at a young age! Blessings, Heather
ReplyDeleteYou know you never know what sticks with them even at a very young age. They won't have specific memories from a year old or even 2 years old, but they are still watching and building pathways. She will hold onto the things you are teaching her even now :)
DeleteI am total agreement with you and your mom. I would so much prefer to have my kids learn about such things from me instead of friends/school etc. Love that picture. Maybe I need to take my boys to Coldstone and have a chat. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd if you are close to them, even when they pick up something "out there" in the world, they will give you the opportunity to talk to them about it and give your perspective. I love that pic too :) It was in Cripple Creek, Colo., how fun!
DeleteAnd if you keep them close, even if they learn something "out there" they will come home and talk to you about it. I like that pic too :) It was taken in Cripple Creek, Colo., how fun!
DeleteThat's a great way to put things in perspective. I'll have to keep reminding myself now and then.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terra. I have to keep reminding myself too :)
DeleteSteph, you have a very wise mother, you are very blessed to have her. Keep up the good work, your a very special mother. God Bless You, Sandy
ReplyDeleteIf this is the Sandy I think it is, then I know you really know what I'm talking about :) I am extremely blessed and I thank God every day. Thank you for your words.
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