Recently, our oldest son, Alex, was presented with an opportunity that would provide him with a lot more freedom than he had experienced before. This of course provided Mom and Dad with some concerns, but we gave our o.k. and permitted him to go. I thought about what I wanted to say to him before he went. In fact I thought about it a lot. Do I threaten him with the "if you do this" or do I ignore the multiple scenarios running through my mind? After all, it doesn't seem like that long ago when I was a teenage boy and I know what I would have done with the same level of freedom. As I thought about it, I decided to take the middle road. I left the threats and situations behind and instead gave him the following council. I don't believe that it is original to me, but I don't remember who said it. Anyway, this is what I told him as I was dropping him off.
"Alex, do right. Don't be good. Being good is situational. Just do right. Do right because it is right to do right." I think someone should walk up to me many times and say the same thing to me.
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It Is We Who Must Be Bent
17 hours ago
1 comment:
I have a hard time imagining myself ever being a parent because I know how I was when I was a teen - just like you've mentioned here.
Of course, I know what YOU were like as a teen, too, so I am somewhat amused by this entry ;)
Very good advice, though. For all of us.
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