Robert Fulghum wrote the best-selling book All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Humorously but clearly, he emphasizes kindergarten teaches you to share everything, play fair, don't hit people, put things back where you find them, clean up your own mess, don't take things that aren't yours, say you're sorry when you hurt somebody, wash your hands before you eat, take naps, eat warm cookies, and drink cold milk. All this is good for you.
You should learn some, think some, draw some, paint some, sing some, dance some, play some, and work some everyday. And when you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. Simple, gifted words that speak uncommonly great wisdom.
Unfortunately, family members are not always inclined to do these things, for first and foremost, each person in a family is an individual and, regardless of age and distinguishing characteristics, some members will get caught up in egotism and the inequities of life.
Families consist of children, parents, grandparents, and all gradations in between. Their life together is an ongoing journey, often stressful and challenging, but ultimately joyful and rewarding. While many factors can lead to dysfunctional families, there are a far greater number of functioning, happy families of a traditional nature. Yet they, too, occasionally border on social discordance. This group is reasonably well adjusted, but personal or family misfortunes can produce breakdowns.
Among such problems are family illnesses, unwanted pregnancies, cost of raising a family or attending college, worries over children's safety at school, or concerns about children's mental attitudes. Any of these might precipitate a crisis.
In raising children, parents have a tremendous responsibility. If they are good parents, they will shower their children with unconditional love, govern as little as possible, and listen to what children have to say. They may be trying to tell you something. They may be calling for help! As one parenting specialist said: "When kids reach teenage, its time for parents to shut up and listen!" That does not mean to acquiesce to demands, but in the eyes of young people, if adults listen, they at least demonstrate a sense of fair play. When establishing personal values, young people pay a great deal of attention to the actions of parents, whether parents realize it or not. The old adage of "Do as I say and not as I do" may have worked in another age, but it isn't likely to carry much weight today. You really can't mold children's lives for the better by asking them to exhibit standards their parents continually break or avoid.
I have always wondered if there is a right or wrong way to raise a family, for there isn't a perfect model. My life as a mom is not perfect. Although I was raised in an amazing family, my parents always say "you never knew what went on behind closed doors". Yet, to me, I had the PERFECT life...How do I teach my daughter that not everything is perfect...
So here is MY new words of wisdom I will use with Emilee to teach her that nothing in our life will EVER be PERFECT...
A penny saved is ... not much.
So shall you make your bed ... so shall you mess it up.
It's always darkest before ... daylight saving time.
You can't teach an old dog ... new math.
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you. Cry and you ... have to blow your nose.
It's better to be safe than ... punch a fifth grader.
A miss is as good as a ... Mr.
AND....
•There is no such thing as a perfect life.
•Hold lightly to the good things.
•Blessings are undeserved.
NONE of us live in a one-dimensional world. There cannot be up without down, wide without narrow, good without evil, or happiness without sadness. God just didn’t create it that way. In fact, He promised that all of us would face difficulty and sadness in life.
As hard as it is, I accept that bad things will happen. I accept that no matter what life I could be born into, there would be parts of it to dislike. I will enjoy the blessings that come my way, it’s only fair to deal with the difficulties as gracefully as possible.
I believe that this life we live is short. It is the life we have been given. We can be happy in our sometimes chaotic world and unfenced home, and STILL have a life full of UNCONDITIONAL love OR we can live in a home fenced with no reality, choices, dreams and most of all, love.
WHITE PICKET FENCES: The term was used frequently in the 40s. Picket fences were commonly painted white and they enclosed your "dream home" Not every one could afford such a home and most families that could did not divorce and belonged to the local church. Most were sheltered from the harsher side of life.
So...
"Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?"
---Fanny Brice
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