Today's Theme
This one is long, just warning you.
I thought it was interesting this morning that when I got up and looked at my calendar the theme the was in bold print was "Parents as Teachers Day". I know that to some of you that may not make sense so let me explain.
It just so happens that yesterday afternoon we were out and about. Some of the family was re-acting to perceived treatments that one felt to be un-necessary. The re-action, spurred several different conversations. I have been thinking about those conversations all night. I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about them.
One person did not understand why they were always harassed, teased, or the point of chain yanking when we gathered as family. We tried to explain that it just happens, those doing the teasing, harassing, and chain yanking have all been in the same shoes at some point or another previously and just doing the same thing. We tried to point out that it is the re-action we are looking for or learning from. It is all done in jest.
As the conversation continued, we talked about how the actions and re-actions of some is embarrassing, too embarrassing allow others the opportunity to be exposed to it. That concerned me. We were reminded again that at one point or another, we have all been in the same boat. As young children, we acted silly, sought attention, did strange things that to some may have been embarrassing. The response was, "But I grew out of it, hopefully they will too. Then I will bring people around."
What are we growing out of? What are we growing into? The conversation through the night changed as we discussed why we, as parents do some of the things we do. Why we prohibit or stop certain behaviors. Why we worry about teaching our children, that they might be prepared in life.
I observed parents telling their children to stop doing something last night, because we were in public. Was it embarrassing? Will they grow out of it?
I observed certain re-actions and responses that were un-necessary. Was it sad? Was it because of teenage adolescence? Will they grow out of it?
What will they grow into? Are we preparing them to grow into it? Suddenly a scripture comes to mind.
D&C 88:121 - Cease from all light speeches, from all laughter,... from all your pride and light-mindedness...
Does this mean that all these things are wrong? Are we not supposed to have fun and grow out of these things? Does that mean that we are not going to have stories about alligators, sewers, heaven, and more? Do we become straight faced and sober all the time and completely wipe out levity in our lives? I don't imagine that this is what the Lord was talking about.
I think that we need to grow into a little more soberness when it comes to things of soberness. We don't speak lightly of things like the gospel, education, and our eternal progression. We don't laugh at people who take their spiritual and temporal development seriously. We start thinking about others instead of just ourselves. We realize that all that we do will and does affect others whether we think it does or doesn't. We realize that we are not here just for fun. We are here to gain eternal happiness and joy.
So, as parents, how do we teach these things? Do we put up with the silliness, rudeness, lack of etiquette in social groups, texting, mood swings, and other such behaviors because we know that hopefully someday you will grow out of it, or do we remind you of what you should be doing? Do we continue to stress, demonstrate, and teach you that life is not a bowl of cherries? We do have to take responsibility for our action, whether it is fun or not. Life is just that way.
Continue reading this section. Ponder it. Think about what you can do to apply it to your life.
I thought it was interesting this morning that when I got up and looked at my calendar the theme the was in bold print was "Parents as Teachers Day". I know that to some of you that may not make sense so let me explain.
It just so happens that yesterday afternoon we were out and about. Some of the family was re-acting to perceived treatments that one felt to be un-necessary. The re-action, spurred several different conversations. I have been thinking about those conversations all night. I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about them.
One person did not understand why they were always harassed, teased, or the point of chain yanking when we gathered as family. We tried to explain that it just happens, those doing the teasing, harassing, and chain yanking have all been in the same shoes at some point or another previously and just doing the same thing. We tried to point out that it is the re-action we are looking for or learning from. It is all done in jest.
As the conversation continued, we talked about how the actions and re-actions of some is embarrassing, too embarrassing allow others the opportunity to be exposed to it. That concerned me. We were reminded again that at one point or another, we have all been in the same boat. As young children, we acted silly, sought attention, did strange things that to some may have been embarrassing. The response was, "But I grew out of it, hopefully they will too. Then I will bring people around."
What are we growing out of? What are we growing into? The conversation through the night changed as we discussed why we, as parents do some of the things we do. Why we prohibit or stop certain behaviors. Why we worry about teaching our children, that they might be prepared in life.
I observed parents telling their children to stop doing something last night, because we were in public. Was it embarrassing? Will they grow out of it?
I observed certain re-actions and responses that were un-necessary. Was it sad? Was it because of teenage adolescence? Will they grow out of it?
What will they grow into? Are we preparing them to grow into it? Suddenly a scripture comes to mind.
D&C 88:121 - Cease from all light speeches, from all laughter,... from all your pride and light-mindedness...
Does this mean that all these things are wrong? Are we not supposed to have fun and grow out of these things? Does that mean that we are not going to have stories about alligators, sewers, heaven, and more? Do we become straight faced and sober all the time and completely wipe out levity in our lives? I don't imagine that this is what the Lord was talking about.
I think that we need to grow into a little more soberness when it comes to things of soberness. We don't speak lightly of things like the gospel, education, and our eternal progression. We don't laugh at people who take their spiritual and temporal development seriously. We start thinking about others instead of just ourselves. We realize that all that we do will and does affect others whether we think it does or doesn't. We realize that we are not here just for fun. We are here to gain eternal happiness and joy.
So, as parents, how do we teach these things? Do we put up with the silliness, rudeness, lack of etiquette in social groups, texting, mood swings, and other such behaviors because we know that hopefully someday you will grow out of it, or do we remind you of what you should be doing? Do we continue to stress, demonstrate, and teach you that life is not a bowl of cherries? We do have to take responsibility for our action, whether it is fun or not. Life is just that way.
Continue reading this section. Ponder it. Think about what you can do to apply it to your life.
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