Something My Dad Taught Me.....

So my Dad passed over 20 years ago at way to young an age...61.  I was 25 and barely started making my way in the world.  (I had a late start, LOL).

He taught me a whole bunch of things and he didn't even realize it.  That was my fault as I never took the time to tell him.

Anyway, one thing I've learned that as a parent we do the best we can to raise our kids right.  Recently I was talking with a guy at work who has a 4 yr old.... and I came to a realization.

Now it may seem obvious to some but I guess it all comes down to perspective.  We want to raise our kids to be productive citizens...to be good people....to treat others with respect...to mind their manners and their mouths.

We are also teaching them how to be a parent.

That can mean to be like us or to not be like us.  Hopefully they learn from our mistakes. 

I have to stop myself sometimes from holding my kids too accountable....going overboard with accountability doesn't do any good.  I have that tendency as my folks didn't really hold me accountable for the knucklehead stuff I did.

There are times when I want to "lecture" them....but I stop myself.  I would rather talk to them as young adults and teach them.

At the end of the day all I can do is hope that did the best I could.  Some days I can "yes I did", other days not so much.

Every day I wake up I thank God for letting me do so, and ask for the strength and wisdom I need to do the best I can for them.

What kind of parent are you raising tour kids to be?

"Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones....

But words will never hurt me."  This was something I heard all the time growing up.  Not so much today. 

Today we have people that declare a need for "safe spaces" because they may be triggered by something they hear, words. 

Words have tremendous power, no doubt about it.  In politics, religion, in arguments, in debates, in relationships...in everything we do.

A police officer's words can escalate or deescalate a situation.  A politician's words can get them elected or derail a career.  A spouse's words can save or end a marriage.  A friend's words can strengthen or end a 20 year friendship.  A teacher's word can inspire students or bring them down.  A coach's words can motivate a team to victory or ensure defeat.

Words really only have the power that we as individuals give them.  If someone verbally insults me it may bother me for a minute...literally for only a minute.  I am not going to allow them to rent space in my head.

It is nice to hear good things about ourselves from other people.  It will bring a smile to anyone's face or make their day. 

It sucks to hear negative things, for sure.  I don't know one person who likes to hear bad things said about them.

But it is up to us to give those words, negative or positive, power over us.