So the kids are back in school and things are going very well. Our oldest, J, has a FULL class load! In 10th grade he's already doing college prep work and hopefully he'll be setting himself up for some scholarships! He's a smart young man, and headed in the right direction!! We've had some unexpected bumps along the way, but he's definitely back on track now!! We are very proud of all his hard work and strong determination.
Our youngest, B, is settling in to 2nd grade and making new friends. Unfortunately none of his classmates from last year are in his class this year, but he does know some of his classmates from around the school so he wasn't completely "new". B is a wonderful, friendly, outgoing child with a heart of gold. He showed it again this morning while we were getting ready for school. I was packing his snack and he told me about a classmate who didn't have a snack the first day. He asked her if she forgot it but she didn't answer him. He said, "I thought she was just shy." On the second day of school she didn't have snack again. When they went to wash their hands she told him that she was hungry. He asked if she brought a snack today. She said no, her mother didn't have any. He told me that he felt so sad and that he had shared his snack with her. While they were talking over snacks, she told him that her mother didn't have any money to buy snacks. My heart broke. So as I was packing his snack this morning he asked me to pack extra for her, so he could share again. :o) He is just the sweetest, kindest child I have ever met. He loves and cares about people in the most amazing, unassuming ways.
We did pack extra snack today, another bag of Cheese Nips and another juice box. The smile on his face was amazing, just knowing that he was caring for someone else, and he was so happy to do it. God has truly blessed us in SO many ways, and we are so lucky to be able to share our blessings with the world. I've said it many times, but I wouldn't be at ALL surprised if B grew up to be a pastor. Our kids are our biggest blessings, and they continue to pass it on. That's the best gift of all.
Showing posts with label courtesy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label courtesy. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
What's Wrong With This Picture?
"Goodness is the only investment that never fails." - Henry David Thoreau
Where has all the goodness gone? What happened to manners and common decency? What is WRONG with people today??
My kids are very polite. They hold doors for people ALL the time and seldom get a "thank you" or any form of acknowledgement. When that happens, I am quick to thank them for their kindness, often loud enough for the rude person to hear in hopes that it will jog their manner memory.
Yesterday at the grocery store, a lady in a wheelchair was trying to get something out of a freezer compartment. My oldest son quickly went over to help her, unprompted, and made sure she had everything she needed before he came back to me. I was extremely proud!! (She did thank him, by the way.) This is actually a common occurrence for him. He is very helpful to people in stores all the time. He also volunteers at our local hospital and is well respected among his co-workers.
My youngest son is very much the same! At Chick-Fil-A the other day, a teenager dropped something off his table, looked at it and decided to leave it on the floor. My seven-year-old went over, picked it up and handed it to him. His mother muttered an "Oh, thanks" and went on eating. He has also stopped to pick up items that other people knocked off the shelf at the store, and put them back on the shelf where they belong. It makes me PROUD to see them doing the right thing, making good choices and often others DO compliment us on their behavior.
I'm not saying my children are perfect angels by any means, they make mistakes just like the rest of us. We are raising young men who will grow into true gentlemen, teaching them to treat other people with respect, kindness, decency and courtesy. Why is that so difficult for some others?
There is a person who regularly emails me for assistance (in a somewhat professional setting). SO often I have responded at length, but I have never, not ONCE, received a reply. Not a quick, "thanks", not even acknowledging that she has received a response from me. When she sent out a blanket email to many of us with details of her personal issues I sent my condolences and advice when solicited. Again, no response. I did receive another blanket email where she thanked many other people by name for their assistance, care, concern, blah, blah, blah. I know that at that time she had a lot going on, so I dismissed it, but for it to happen SO often, it cannot be excused. I recently went out of my way for one of her requests and again got no response. (Another person thanked me for my help, so I know she is getting my replies.)
Grumpy store clerks, impatient drivers honking all the time, no one wants to let you out in traffic, people don't say "hello" anymore! They pass you and look at the floor. What happened to eye contact and general conversation?
Also, if you desire a polite response, ask in a polite manner. Treat people the way you want to be treated. It's a basic principle, people! If you are nasty to someone, you cannot expect them to be nice to you in return.
I will continue to invest in my future and my children's future. I will teach them to be nice to others, even the ones who are not nice to them. Lead by example! I hope and pray that they will continue to make good choices and I will praise them when they do. Smile at people, it's not difficult, it's free, and you'll be surprised at what a difference it makes! :o)
Where has all the goodness gone? What happened to manners and common decency? What is WRONG with people today??
My kids are very polite. They hold doors for people ALL the time and seldom get a "thank you" or any form of acknowledgement. When that happens, I am quick to thank them for their kindness, often loud enough for the rude person to hear in hopes that it will jog their manner memory.
Yesterday at the grocery store, a lady in a wheelchair was trying to get something out of a freezer compartment. My oldest son quickly went over to help her, unprompted, and made sure she had everything she needed before he came back to me. I was extremely proud!! (She did thank him, by the way.) This is actually a common occurrence for him. He is very helpful to people in stores all the time. He also volunteers at our local hospital and is well respected among his co-workers.
My youngest son is very much the same! At Chick-Fil-A the other day, a teenager dropped something off his table, looked at it and decided to leave it on the floor. My seven-year-old went over, picked it up and handed it to him. His mother muttered an "Oh, thanks" and went on eating. He has also stopped to pick up items that other people knocked off the shelf at the store, and put them back on the shelf where they belong. It makes me PROUD to see them doing the right thing, making good choices and often others DO compliment us on their behavior.
I'm not saying my children are perfect angels by any means, they make mistakes just like the rest of us. We are raising young men who will grow into true gentlemen, teaching them to treat other people with respect, kindness, decency and courtesy. Why is that so difficult for some others?
There is a person who regularly emails me for assistance (in a somewhat professional setting). SO often I have responded at length, but I have never, not ONCE, received a reply. Not a quick, "thanks", not even acknowledging that she has received a response from me. When she sent out a blanket email to many of us with details of her personal issues I sent my condolences and advice when solicited. Again, no response. I did receive another blanket email where she thanked many other people by name for their assistance, care, concern, blah, blah, blah. I know that at that time she had a lot going on, so I dismissed it, but for it to happen SO often, it cannot be excused. I recently went out of my way for one of her requests and again got no response. (Another person thanked me for my help, so I know she is getting my replies.)
Grumpy store clerks, impatient drivers honking all the time, no one wants to let you out in traffic, people don't say "hello" anymore! They pass you and look at the floor. What happened to eye contact and general conversation?
Also, if you desire a polite response, ask in a polite manner. Treat people the way you want to be treated. It's a basic principle, people! If you are nasty to someone, you cannot expect them to be nice to you in return.
I will continue to invest in my future and my children's future. I will teach them to be nice to others, even the ones who are not nice to them. Lead by example! I hope and pray that they will continue to make good choices and I will praise them when they do. Smile at people, it's not difficult, it's free, and you'll be surprised at what a difference it makes! :o)
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