Monday, April 1, 2013

Respect: Not Just for Adults

One of the greatest lessons in parenting I've ever learned was taught to me by my mom, and reinforced to me by teachers.  Being a Child Development major, I've seen the importance in this lesson.
Growing up, whenever we asked my mom "why?", she would tell us.  Even if this meant explaining punishments, or why something we were doing was wrong.  She would catch some heat from this, by people who would tell her that she didn't need to tell us, we didn't deserve to know, and the answer could be as simply as 'Because I'm the parent, that's why".  But my mom didn't see it that way. 
She taught me that just because we were smaller, and younger, it didn't mean that we were any less important.  We were still humans, and deserved to be treated as such.  We still should have the same level of dignity, courtesy, and respect.
There are so many lessons that a parent needs to teach their child.  Parenting is one big responsibility! 
But things will run so much smoother with respect.  Parents want to be obeyed and treated with respect, right?  Children learn from their parents.  The lesson of respect will get across much quicker if they are being shown respect.  Because, as I've said before, children learn so much more by example than by being told. 
We want our children to BE and not simply to DO.  Making them obey out of fear will get them to DO, but it will never teach them to BE.  And what's the point of a lesson at all, if it only changes one actions, and not the person themselves?  Nothing takes root, and nothing is truly accomplished.  And that's a failure.

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