Not really about our fight per say, but interesting none the less...please leave your comments...we are interested in them all... :)
We were on the way to church this morning and DH said, "Look Zach! There's a $125,000 car!" It was a LOTUS, which DH went on to explain is only manufactured in Italy and has to be shipped here. Which brought me to the point of "Why?" I mean seriously??? So we got off on the discussion of 'want vs. need' and DH kept trying to justify why a car such as the LOTUS would be a need.
The church sermon was great, though I had to leave twice...once because I forgot the offering envelope in the car and no sooner than I get back in the kids have to potty...but it was still good...what I heard of it at least... And then we were off to Sunday School. You would think it was a carnival the way the kids race to get to their class. It's nice they like it so much and they are making good friends.
So DH and I head to our class, which right now is discussing the topic of traditions and making memories, but somehow we got off on that LOTUS again...but the conversation did bring us right into our lesson and scripture on "need". It got me thinking about alot of stuff...you know...the kind of stuff you want, and then try to find a way to rationalize that you really need it...and how our house is really "cluttered" with all kinds of that "stuff".
I wonder how it would feel to get rid of all the "stuff"? I wonder how much less complicated life would be w/o it? All that said.... I NEED my sewing things :) No, not really, but they are things I enjoy and I do use them on a regular basis..not just as a creative outlet, but to make clothing for the kids...
We also talked about Manners and children....and a course called "Growing Kids God's Way". Now, there were only four of us there today, DH and myself being two of them, but it is something we want to look into as a group...and would make for an interesting challenge...
How do you handle your kids, manners, speaking to adults and engaging in conversations with adults...do you make you littles learn to do it because it is expected? Do you let them shy out of it? Do you think it's rude if a child shys out of a conversation?? Lots of questions we raised....lots of personal answers...feel free to share your thoughts.
Growing kids God's way....hhhhuuuummmmm..WELL! First off, I was raised in southern CA. With ahliberal hippie type Mom. Ony because she had to be to get by...Now? I live in TN. have lived in the "deep south" since 1989 & LOVE IT !!! I have raised my girls here in the "south" & one thing I love about MOST people (&by most I mean 90% +) have beautiful manners. My girls are no exception. They are both adults now & to this very day get get compliments on their manners. As for shy kids, neither one of mine were shy. but forcing manners? Yes, if you want immediate results, you do have to force them. Forcing them in the same manner you teach them to say Please & thank you. But most southerners say Ma'am & Sir when saying yes & no. Or please. My daughter has this baudy joke she tells people when she's complimented on her manners: She tells them: See this flat spot on the back of my head? that's how I learned my manners...It's not true. but I DID keep them from having something if they did not use manners. Amazing how quickly manners become NORMAL when they are denied goodies, My girls wouldn't even get served at a restaurant without ordering as "May I please have" - they didn't get excused fromt he table without asking "May I please be excused" But , you know, you can't start pushing manners on kids when they are older. It's next to impossible to teach a teen manners if they never grew up with them. That being siad too.I have neices & nephews that absolutely KNOW they have to use manners around me! And I sure can tell when I am around non-southerners or children that were not required to use them, as they are so RUDE. My oldest daughter has a boyfreind that is from iowa. he is a nice young man, but he doensn't have ANY manners. None. not even holding a door. Chivilary is not dead. He's learning though because in our area, it's expected. Nice people have manners. Period. I think we succeeded in the manner department. i think some people think that children don't have to use manners. But, I'm here to tell you, a mannerly child is the first kid a teacher likes. No matter how awful their behaviour is! It's that "Bless her heart" syndrome for sure....I guess I didnt' answer much for you & I don't know where you live. But if you lived in TN or AL or GA or the Carolinas, manners are something kids learn long before they learn anything else. sort of natural. It's expected. I think manners separate people social-economically too.....One generally assumes that a person with manners is "better" or something...it's SO hard to explain.
ReplyDeleteSam in Middle TN