GROOMING RESPECTFUL ADULTS

I was listening to the View this morning. They were ranting about all the current news about Cain and Penn State and the elections in general. I think for me, so much of this boils down to teaching our children to treat others with respect. As human beings we all need to be treated with human dignity. (I realize that child sexual abuse is another situation.) We all have been told "to respect our elders." That isn't what I'm referring to here. In all walks of our lives we need to think about treating all others with dignity. I think in part, that is what the Ten Commandments are really about. So as a parent how do you convey this to your children? I think it is difficult to teach this in words. It needs to be a value and something they observe in us. It is also what they need to see in our interactions with them. Those of you that have been reading our blog know I absolutely believe in having rules and boundaries with children. I believe there have to be consequences when these are not followed. This being true does not negate the need to also treat those same disobedient children with respect and human dignity. When they react to us in a manner that is less than this we need to remind them that we treat them in a respectful manner and we expect that returned in kind. In this manner I believe we will eventually help them develop this value for themselves. Respectfully submitted. Sherri