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“I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals.”
Barack Obama
We often assume our children will develop values automatically, like magic. But teaching values starts with clarifying what our values are, and then finding ways in daily life to discuss -- and live -- them with our children.
Our kids need to know that doing the right thing is not only the right thing to do, but the satisfying thing to do, deep inside, even when it costs us something -- and what hard moral choice doesn't cost us?
To be the people we want to be, we need to believe — and teach our children -- things that we can’t prove are true:
That most people are mostly good
That things have a way of working out
That crime doesn't pay
That good conquers evil
That it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all ...
You can certainly add to this list.
Every parent will have a different answer to the question most kids get around to asking: "Why does it matter what one person does, if no one ever knows?"
My answer is, "The angels need our help."
p.s. Happy Inauguration Day!
Barack Obama
We often assume our children will develop values automatically, like magic. But teaching values starts with clarifying what our values are, and then finding ways in daily life to discuss -- and live -- them with our children.
Our kids need to know that doing the right thing is not only the right thing to do, but the satisfying thing to do, deep inside, even when it costs us something -- and what hard moral choice doesn't cost us?
To be the people we want to be, we need to believe — and teach our children -- things that we can’t prove are true:
That most people are mostly good
That things have a way of working out
That crime doesn't pay
That good conquers evil
That it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all ...
You can certainly add to this list.
Every parent will have a different answer to the question most kids get around to asking: "Why does it matter what one person does, if no one ever knows?"
My answer is, "The angels need our help."
p.s. Happy Inauguration Day!
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