Last week, I came across this rather awesome video.
As you can imagine, it touched MamaBear's heart bigtime.
And inspired the following question.
How strong is your child's character?
It's all very well and good to raise your kids to know the difference between right and wrong.
But tell me now, and tell me seriously.
Have you *also* raised your child to risk humiliation or pain or shunning for standing up for what's right?
It certainly is a difficult lesson to instill.
Going against the majority, going against what everyone tells you is the right way to be…following that blindly helps your child become a mindless member of a soul-less pack.
One of the best ways to help strengthen your child's character is to discuss current events and ask them, what would *you* have done?
I well remember a discussion I had with HD1 regarding that. Years ago (years!), she had asked me what I thought about capital punishment. And I had responded, I firmly believe in an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, and if you've killed someone deliberately in cold blood, you've relinquished your right to receive treatment worthy of a human being.
And she responded,
"But mom, then we'd be just as bad as they are!"
To which I said,
"Hell no – they proactively chose to deprive someone innocent….of their life.
I'm proactively choosing to deprive someone evil…of their life.
They had their choice…and I have mine. One action was murder, another was the consequence."
Sure, my attitudes might be starkly different than the rest of the worlds….but there comes a time when you have to *choose* to stand up for what you believe.
In other words…
Walk the walk you talk to your kids.
My children have seen me proactively defriend people on Facebook because I do not agree with their actions.
Teach them that it's okay to stand up for what they believe in, even if the rest of the world mocks them.
Because if they do not do it….who will?
It's something to think on, indeed.
Parent powerfully,
— MamaBear
