Children don’t learn good graces and how to be thoughtful unless their parents take the time to teach them. You have to start young and reinforce every day of your child’s life to build respect and kindness.
Rebecca Hagelin wrote about the need for parents to teach their children manners recently in a blog for Dr. James Dobson’s family talk.
Why? Because she says American society and institutions used to come alongside parents and reinforce respectful behavior; but for three or more decades now, the culture has taught us to be self-centered, technologically oriented to the point of tuning out real relationships, and just plain rude.
She continues… And, as recent news reports testify, our culture has also taught us to tolerate highly disrespectful and immoral behavior like sexual harassment.
Apathy toward indecent, uncivil and immoral behavior has been the undoing of many a society throughout history. Nations filled with individuals who are apathetic about how they treat others ultimately become nations marred by selfishness and greed.
History shows us that no enemy was able to defeat ancient Rome; Rome fell from within when it became morally bankrupt.
To truly influence the culture, Hagelin argues, we must teach our children to be respectful, helpful, courteous and generous. We must teach them to continue exhibiting these traits even if they never receive a smile or thanks in return. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do.