Be wary of your sticks and stones for your words can surely hurt them.
Teach your children kindness. If you are kind to your children, they will grow up knowing kindness.
"Be ye kind, one to another." a famous quote in my family. did they listen?
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
A child asks, "Why?" The parent replies, "Because I said so!" Oh please, people. Think about what you are speaking to your child. Many times I have been forced to literally bite my tongue to keep from sharing my opinion on that kind of parenting. I want to scream at them, "What are you writing on the tablet of their heart?" Who do you think that you are? What has this child learned from you that gives you such authority over another human being? You are not your child's god. God Almighty has entrusted that child into your care. If I could say just one thing to the parents of a young child, I would say this: Please, please, please, introduce Him to your children. If you don't know Him well enough to do so then get to know Him better yourself. Learn and grow along with them. Be a good steward of God's gifts.
Children need to be taught to speak politely to people. No doubt. Kindness should be the foundation. It's much more than just teaching them a set of 'good manners'. Anyone can order a small child to repeat something at rote, ie please, thank you, Yes Sir! It's the manner of the being behind those words that I am talking about. Demonstrate it to them. Kindness must be practiced as well. Once you begin teaching them the proper way to speak to you and the correct way to treat others, they will respond positively and begin practicing what they have learned.
Oh and one more thing that I would say is this: If you don't want them to do it when they are sixteen, don't let them do it now and think that it is cute or funny or say, "they're just being kids. They've got plenty of time to grow up." Seriously? They are growing up before your eyes, people! Open them! One minute they are an infant, next thing it's off to school. Blink your eyes and they are living three states away and working on their Master's Degree. You begin teaching them the moment they take their first breath.
And then there's the name calling. Why in the world would anyone tell their child that they are stupid? Could someone please explain this phenomena to me? Why would you degrade or demean them in any way? And don't tell me that it's preparing them for going out into the world or building their character. BS if I EVER heard it. Where do they come up with this? No where have I ever read that this is good for anyone in any way, but it is done in homes every day to the detriment of our society. Call me crazy, but can't you see it?
I grew up out there in the thick of it. BS flying everywhere. Take my word for it, it's out there. So where can we find the truth? Where can we turn to teach our children the standards by which they should live? Do we yell at them to be quiet and set them down in front of the TV? I know, let's pack them off to daycare and let someone else teach them about loving kindness and all the other really important things. Now there's an idea that's really taken off, and it's been quite successful too. Just read the headlines.
Proverbs 22:6
Oh and one more thing that I would say is this: If you don't want them to do it when they are sixteen, don't let them do it now and think that it is cute or funny or say, "they're just being kids. They've got plenty of time to grow up." Seriously? They are growing up before your eyes, people! Open them! One minute they are an infant, next thing it's off to school. Blink your eyes and they are living three states away and working on their Master's Degree. You begin teaching them the moment they take their first breath.
And then there's the name calling. Why in the world would anyone tell their child that they are stupid? Could someone please explain this phenomena to me? Why would you degrade or demean them in any way? And don't tell me that it's preparing them for going out into the world or building their character. BS if I EVER heard it. Where do they come up with this? No where have I ever read that this is good for anyone in any way, but it is done in homes every day to the detriment of our society. Call me crazy, but can't you see it?
I grew up out there in the thick of it. BS flying everywhere. Take my word for it, it's out there. So where can we find the truth? Where can we turn to teach our children the standards by which they should live? Do we yell at them to be quiet and set them down in front of the TV? I know, let's pack them off to daycare and let someone else teach them about loving kindness and all the other really important things. Now there's an idea that's really taken off, and it's been quite successful too. Just read the headlines.
Proverbs 22:6
