Mr. Manners

January 4th, 2008

I just finished reading “The Duties of Parents” by J.C. Ryle.  It did a good job of reminding me of what we are doing and working towards with our children. It is always good to be reminded of the big picture to keep you consistent in the day to day discipline/training of little minds.  The one thing I have come to see, is that training is a small consistent, daily activity.  It doesn’t end, the tools just change and things become more and more refined as things move along.  Little concepts, add up over a long time to take you where you want to go.

I have been thinking about how to help all of our children understand how they are supposed to treat the opposite sex as they grow and mature and how they are to  be treated.  Last year we began working on simple modesty and privacy, Yes Mom and Yes Dad, ladies first etc..  Now we are starting to help the boys understand how to treat girls and eventually women.  I figure if they start at 6 and 3 with their sister a few things will happen.  It will become second nature and their sister will understand how she should be treated as she grows into woman hood.  We will parlay that into using “The Tale of Three Weavers” with her Daddy in a few years.

We are starting to train the boys in  opening doors for their sister and ladies and general and helping ladies to carry items.  If they see a woman(or any grown up really) carrying something they are learning to immediately stop what they are doing and help.  That is the goal anyway.  Part of it is training them to be aware of their surroundings, and what others are doing and how they may be of service to others.  Maybe I will have to remind them a thousand times a week so pray I have the strength and courage to stay consistent.

Entry Filed under: Training Kids, Life