Parents must reassert themselves in teaching values!

[etexmom]

 Upon reading this morning's paper, I thought this article was great to add here, on CafeMom.  I totally agree with this writer.

For the past decade, I have had the opportunity to work with and observe the character of many children, youth, and young adults, including my own children and my siblings.

I've seen the looming backdrop of moral decline in character among children more so now than ever before.  There is a decreased sense of right and wrong coupled with the growing public burden of teaching basic values.  Values such as honesty, integrity, courtesy, respect for authority, respect for the rights of property of others, pride in workmanship, and reverence for high academic standards seem frighteningly absent.  I can say this is due to the schools, the court system, and street life having to pick up the pieces of broken family life, serious social and emotional problems, overworked or absentee parents, and very limited and weak training at home.

When I grew up in the early '50's, our family sat down at the dinner table for meals.  This was a time when each family member was given the opportunity to talk, vent, laugh, and to be encouraged to be all they could be.  The dinner table is not only a place of sustenance and family business but also a place of teaching and passing on of family values.  Strong influence is needed to develop our children's consciences.  Parents are responsible for the moral development of children.  The greatest concern for parents should be refining and shaping a child's character, and this demands time and attention.

There is a distinct line between upholding standards and teaching moral judgment.  Teaching character in the home should not be a problem because character is the application of values and faith from our ethical standards and integrity.

Children are not being trained in character development at home.  Children's role models should come from within their own families.  Parents have simply dropped the ball.  Homes are not equipped anymore with mothers and fathers who want to help weave their children into their social lives and knit a part of their parental guidance into their lives.

The home was set up by God.  The home will work if the roles of men and women, mothers and fathers, are duplicated with God's instructions.  Today, there are widespread parental misconceptions about discipline, behavior and punishment.  Punishment has a very bad reputation.  These misconceptions have resulted in a growing number of overly aggressive, easily frustrated, angry, out-of-control children.  The blame lies squarely upon parents.

Human beings learn primarily through modeling.  We have and are failing as responsible adults to help our children develop an ear and an eye for what they are absorbing.  They are like sponges, and much of what they take in has to deal with moral values and character.  The overwhelming through that we, as adults, have to influence a life for good or bad, ought to have each of us to our knees in prayer continually, crying out to God for help.  Society is structured to make it hard to do the right things when it comes to our children.

Let's go back to the basics of good strong families and homes.  Let's control the flow of ideas and images influencing our children.

We've got to be and do what is required of us concerning our children.  We have lost a generation of children.  We can turn this around with God's and each other's help.  One of the greatest things we can do for children is to take them seriously and set aside time to listen to their experiences.  How we deal with our children will influence the course of their lives.  Let's work hard to save our babies.

 

The Rev. Herb Spady is a regular contrbutor to the Saturday Forum.

[Montylyn]

Jul. 26, 2009 at 1:45 PM

Wow, thanks for sharing that with us. You know there is so much truth to that and it's so sad that alot of children are being lost to the system,drugs, gangs and all because the parents are too lazy to care or trying to keep up with today times themselves. They have thrown their family values  that were taught to them by their parents out the window,all because they see it to be so old fashion.That is an interesting article and I do wish it can be an eye opener to those that are doing exactly that. Thanks again and I enjoyed reading it. Much love, Linda

[MamaDiane]

Jul. 27, 2009 at 7:14 AM

SO TRUE!!  We have kicked God out of our lives, schools...and we are beginning to see the results!  I pray that I can raise my girls right in a discouraging world!