“PLEASE TEACH PARENTS THIS!”

A Dozen Parenting Pointers from the Mouth of a Nine Year Old.

1.     Don’t say NO too much.

2.     Teach them to listen – really listen.

photo by Daniel Andre

3.     Sibling problems:

a.     Let the kids figure it out!

b.     Sing the MYOB* song to the tune of “Good Morning to You.”

4.     Give options but not too many choices.  Kids can think and make their own.

5.     Teach your child how to be responsible.

6.     Let your child clean up their own toys.

7.     Threats don’t work.

8.     Teach breathing.  It keeps people calm.

9.     Screaming, hitting, spanking, bullying your own kid is bad. It scars them and scares them.

10.             Say, “If you don’t want to eat it, it’s your choice.” Then let them be hungry.

11.            The more TV your family watches, the more problems you have.

12.            Don’t laugh at kids.  Laugh with them.

[Who says only adults can design an intelligent curriculum?]

*Mind Your Own Business

11-20-12

THANKSGIVING INSPIRATION AT THE BIG BOX

Give the gift of gratitude this year.

Photo by Michael Hanscom

I didn’t even bother getting out of the car. I was in a hurry and apparently it was the day that our local nursing home brought a bus full of its seniors to Wal-Mart. Exacerbated by the last minute Thanksgiving shoppers, traffic was inching along with folks scouting for parking spots…as scarce as turkeys’ teeth. Since the rain had finally stopped I could have the window down.  My attention was drawn toward the door by the familiar ringing of a Salvation Army volunteer who was waiting for someone to notice him and drop something into his kettle.

“I need to do that soon,” and “wonder if I have enough to share,” and “what a thankless job,” thoughts surfaced.  With that, I noticed a bowed little man who appeared to be nearing the century mark as he emerged from the store.  Dressed rather like Mr. Rogers on a tattered day, he shuffled slowly toward the man with the bell.  Finally able to extract his worn wallet from a back pocket, he fumbled thoughtfully through its contents.  From where I was stopped, I could barely make out the folded bill he raised triumphantly into the air.  But what I did see clearly was the joy on his face as he placed his offering in the waiting pot.

He gave me a gift, too. I may spend Thursday at a table full of food, surrounded by a loving family.  But in my preparations for that special day – indeed the entire holiday season - I’ll reflect on how grateful I am to have seen a shining example of unselfed giving.

Without even being aware of it, my new “friend” has reminded me how thankful I am that there are people like this to love and care and inspire us all.

And how grateful I am for parents who slow down enough to see, appreciate, and share these life lessons with their children.  They’re making the world a better place – one moment at a time.

Christie Clarke
2012