As parents we often wonder just how much of what we are trying to teach our children actually soaks in. Sometimes it feels like they are not listening to a word we say and they sure don't want to do what we say. I would like to share two experiences with you that proves that what we try to teach our children does soak in and they do remember it when they are adults.
As a child we picked wild blackberries to can for winter use. Mom would give all six of us kids a gallon lard bucket and we would pick till it was full then empty it into the larger water bucket. There was a rule and Mom made sure we stuck to that rule. Any berry that was put in our buckets were not to be touched again by us. We were not allowed to eat berries out of the buckets.
Well, I loved my berries and I was always grabbing berries out of my bucket and I got smacked for it. However I kept doing it. I think I did it just to show Mom that she was not my boss.
Now that I am an adult and have not lived with my Mom for 30 years, I still do not eat berries once I put them in my bucket. Now I follow the rule I was taught as a child.
The next story that I want to share with you is this:
We always kept a family bible in the living room on a stand. We were never allowed to put anything on that bible. Mom would say "Nothing is higher than the bible". We really got smacked if we did.
Now that I am an adult, I do not believe there putting something on the bible is a sin. I believe that it is the knowledge that is in the bible that we have to protect not the bible itself. However, I was just now dusting and set my pledge and cloth on my bible. Mom's words came back into my mind "Nothing is higher than the bible".
Yes, the things that we try to teach our children do soak in and yes they remember them when they are adults. There are times that we wonder but I know from experience that we do make a difference in our children's lives just as my Mom did mine even after being away from her for 30 years.
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Comments: 34
I hope that I am teaching my kids only good things. I try.
My parents were very strict. They used the belt a lot on us.
We had to clean our plates too. To this day, I do not waste food.
Did your Mother teach you that?
You are right, mother doesn't "always" know best, but what she did say sticks with you.
I can't believe that you won't eat out of the bucket! LOL, you are too cute.
I learned my volunteerism from my parents...and I think my kids have learned it from me. Before I was old enough to get a "real" job, I was a Red Cross volunteer. Even after I got a job, I still volunteered when I could. Someday I'll elaborate, but not now.
I also really learned the meaning of "The Lord will provide" from my folks also.
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My youngest is a very good shopper. He works, and holds on to every penny because he likes to save for electronics and furniture for his room. He shops online and makes me take him to a half dozen stores so he can price compare before he actually buys something. I told him he was a good shopper and he said he got it from watching me shop. I squeeze every penny til it screams.
That must have made you very proud when he said he learned it from you. :)
Cybergwen,
LOL I just can't bring myself to eat from the bucket. I keep hearing Mom say "anything that goes in the bucket is not yours to eat" and I cant do it. Believe me, I have tried just to be doing somethign that I am not allowed to do but I cannot. LOL
Jax,
LOL I do that too. I hate it when I remind myself of one of my parents. I hope I took the good that my parents taught me and used that to teach my children. I hope I did not teach them the bad. I am a firm believer in each generation being better than the one before and I think we accomplished that. Both our daughters are so much better than Roger and I.
When I was really little and didn't want to clean, my dad would put everything into one large pile, and if I didn't clean up that mess, he would throw it away. I now clean like that...I put everything onto the bed, couch, or table...and I go from there.
He also had a friend nearby, and we ate dinner with their family frequently. Their rule for the kids (which included me and my siblings) was that we didn't have to eat everything on our plate, but if we asked for seconds, then we had to eat everything, because it wasn't fair to take something and waste it. I will not get a second helping if I know I won't eat it.
Iuse to not get my kids clothes in white because of getting them dirty......but relaize no matter I buy my kids. It will get dirty. At least with white we can bleach ir or dye it another color to have it look clean.
I do not yet have children, but I hope to raise them well if ever I have any.
--Alli wuz here--- (Clickin' like mad and leavin' a few comments) Thanks for posting!