Several years ago my daughter Olivia and I spent a great deal of time gathering and hauling large rocks for a landscaping project at our (then) house. These weren't just any rocks, though. They were rocks from the foundation and fireplace of my great-great grandparents home. They were part of our story.
As we climbed around on what remained of the 'old home place' deciding which rocks to take (that's code for which ones we wouldn't kill ourselves lifting into the back of the truck), we laughed about how crazy we were to be 'risking our lives' for a bunch of old rocks But by that same token, we wouldn't have stopped for all the money in the world.
Each time we started to pick up a rock, though, I also did something else. I warned Olivia to be careful...very, very careful because of the possible dangers hiding under the rocks (that's code for snake).
FYI: I'm very thankful to say that in all the rocks we picked up (more than I can count), we never saw one snake. Nada. Zilch. Zero. None.
If we had, however, I can say with complete certainty that after we had quit screaming and doing that little "I just saw a snake" dance, we would have been right back at it. Why? Becauseour my desire to get the rocks and Olivia's desire to be able to say she had survived the day was greater than our fear of what might be underneath them.
As parents we need raise our children to be careful, but not afraid to look under a few rocks in their lifetime.
We need to raise our children to be confident enough in who they are to look under the rocks called trying something new, speaking up for what is right, and being confident enough in their abilities and personality to follow their dreams.
But at the same time we need to tech them to be ready to recognize the snake (poor choices, dangerous situations, and peer pressure) when they see it and to get as far away from it as possible.
Looking under a few rocks is something we all have to do, so do your job and teach your children how to do it right.
Love,
Momma D
Copyright 2017 Darla Noble. No part of this can be used or copied without permission from the author.
As we climbed around on what remained of the 'old home place' deciding which rocks to take (that's code for which ones we wouldn't kill ourselves lifting into the back of the truck), we laughed about how crazy we were to be 'risking our lives' for a bunch of old rocks But by that same token, we wouldn't have stopped for all the money in the world.
Each time we started to pick up a rock, though, I also did something else. I warned Olivia to be careful...very, very careful because of the possible dangers hiding under the rocks (that's code for snake).
FYI: I'm very thankful to say that in all the rocks we picked up (more than I can count), we never saw one snake. Nada. Zilch. Zero. None.
If we had, however, I can say with complete certainty that after we had quit screaming and doing that little "I just saw a snake" dance, we would have been right back at it. Why? Because
As parents we need raise our children to be careful, but not afraid to look under a few rocks in their lifetime.
We need to raise our children to be confident enough in who they are to look under the rocks called trying something new, speaking up for what is right, and being confident enough in their abilities and personality to follow their dreams.
But at the same time we need to tech them to be ready to recognize the snake (poor choices, dangerous situations, and peer pressure) when they see it and to get as far away from it as possible.
Looking under a few rocks is something we all have to do, so do your job and teach your children how to do it right.
Love,
Momma D
Copyright 2017 Darla Noble. No part of this can be used or copied without permission from the author.
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