Pushing vs Gentle Persuasion

How do you spell “stinks?”

Stinks?

Ya, you know, the lion in Egypt.

Is it weird that that was a proud teacher moment for me?

This got me thinking about how, without even realizing it, we project on our kids what we love.   I know I bypass all the Barbies when shopping for my step daughter.  Her room is full of jungle animals, globes, and adventure themed stuff.

Is that bad?

I don’t think so, but I could be biased.  There are some things that should not be pushed on children, but is the desire for adventure and learning one of them?  We call our trips to the grocery store “adventures” and try to spot new and fun things.  DS’s and other game boys are not a part of the short visits we have with the kids.  Maybe if they were here full time that would be different, but I like to think not.

I think kids need to be given choice as to what they believe and love.  This summer my step daughter and I were exploring an old church grounds near our farm.  There were statues and plaques and she wanted to know what every one of them said.  The row of plaques were telling the story of Jesus.

I didn’t want to tell her my true thoughts.  I wanted her to make her own decision.  I summarized the story with the prefix ” Some people believe…”

She was happy with that and never said if she believed it, or not.  Whatever she chooses to believe, I want her to come by it honestly.  I don’t want the kids to believe something just because people tell them they have to.

I’m not sure how this turned into a religion post??  I want the kids to question things they are not sure of.  To be open to what they do not believe in.  To respect differences.  I want them to not fret over topics that we can’t control, but to know that every small thing they do can make a difference.

Most of all, I want them to be kids.  Right now, I want them to worry about kid things.  To explore with the open-mindedness of a child.  They will grow up soon enough.  They can discover world issues later.

As the big questions start being asked, I hope that I can answer them in a way that leaves them free enough to form their own opinion and open enough to know that not everyone believes what they do.