Three Things Every Parent Should Teach Their Kids

1. That the punishment for telling the truth will always be better than the punishment for lying. The reason kids lie is because they're afraid of getting in trouble- trust me, I know! In the beginning I used to always tell the truth and I quickly realized that I was in DEEP trouble. I decided early on that the punishment for lying could be no worse than the ones I received for telling the truth, plus I got the added bonus of doing what I wanted to do in the first place. If kids know that they can tell you the truth without being grounded for life, I think there's a much greater likelihood for an open dialogue and that your children will believe they can really come to you to talk instead of to someone else who might be giving them very bad advice.
2. Always stick up for the underdog. If someone is being bullied then you come to the other person's defense. There is no excuse or justification for cruel behavior and it's so easy to jump on the bandwagon of picking on someone who is too shy or too afraid to stick up for themselves. By coming to that person's defense you will show others your true character while highlighting that bully's lack of it. And while sometimes it may be hard to be that person who openly goes against and defends the person it's popular to pick on, ultimately, they'll feel better about themselves and others will soon recognize their true worth in spades!
3. No matter what they do, you will ALWAYS love and support them. A child or teenager should never be afraid to come to their parent because they fear their parent will stop loving them. They should know their parents will be their advocate throughout life, their biggest fan, and a constant source of love. Of course that doesn't mean a parent should just say "do what you want, it's your life," they should be a guide, pointing out when their child is in the wrong and what they should do to fix it. And sometimes, if their kid has wronged someone else, or hasn't followed through with something they should have, a parent should be there to right that wrong- not just for their child, but for the other person, and to be an example of magnanimous love. As parents, I believe it's our job to right our childrens wrongs until they do so, or else it's just a poor reflection on us as parents. But ultimately, every kid should know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, no matter how badly they screw up,- their parent(s) will always be there for them, with open arms full of love. Think of the prodigal son!

So that's my list, not surprisingly, it comes mostly from experience. Like yesterday when Spencer knocked down a huge display of cards at the hospital and refused to pick them up. I didn't leave them there for someone else to pick up my slack, I did it myself. Or how I didn't tell my parents I was pregnant for almost a month after I found out because I believed my mom would disown me. What do you think are the three most important things to teach a child?

Fire

There was a fire today at my old apartment complex. An entire building went up in flames. I was there when it happened, squaring away a few loose ends.

There were over 10 firetrucks, dozens of policemen, and even more Red Cross volunteers. People were jumping out of their balconies and windows, because the fire had moved up the entire stair well. It was so real, but like something out of a movie. The flames billowing wildly in the air.


I felt like such a voyeur, just watching something I wish I never had to see. The smell of burning is in my hair.

As I was looking at the hollowed out shells of bedrooms and living rooms, something caught my eye as I looked down. Almost right in front of me where hundreds of pictures, all charred around the edges. The owner wasn't there, most of the residents who got caught in the fire had to go to the hospital. Tears immediately sprung to my eyes, as I imagined someone scrambling to protect their photos, their memories, even though a raging fire was encroaching.

I was so glad Spencer wasn't with me. Even though it wasn't my old building, and I was never in any danger- it was so close. It scares me so badly when I think about how fragile this life is.

Tonight, I am grateful.


Grateful.