REvERSED RolES
There are two important principles that parents by
example usually teach their children when they are
young - trust and respect. Children are taught that
they must trust their parents and respect the decisions that they make on their behalf. These principles
become the foundation for future parenting when those
children grow up and begin their own families. I am
amazed as I listen to my own children who are now
grown and married with children of their own when
they are explaining to my grandchildren these values
of trust and respect. It is reassuring to know that my
instructions and discipline did not fall on deaf ears,
but that gentle, caring coaching actually worked.
When my children were very young, my goal as a
parent was to reinforce and foster their independence
and sense of self-reliance by assigning meaningful
and measurable responsibility. I knew that I would
not always be around to tell them what to do or how
to do it, so they needed to be able to figure out some
of life’s challenges for themselves. They didn’t always
do things the way I preferred, but at least they did the
best they could. I preached to them that the most important thing was to “always do your best because that
is all anyone can do, and that is enough.” As they have
Trust&Respect
matured, they are now sharing this same concept with
my grandchildren.
I remember learning this Bible verse when I was a
teenager: “Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs
22:6. Because parenting is such a big responsibility,
it is also one of the most difficult experiences in life.
When children grow up into adulthood and begin to
experience life for themselves, there is less coaching
and guidance for parents to share. Still, it is gratifying to hear your son or daughter ask you for advice or
seek your counsel when they are feeling challenged. As
I approach the second half of my life, I no longer take
for granted their need for my attention. I am happy to
listen to their stories, and enjoy hearing about their
parenting frustrations and praise reports with their
own children.
––––––––––––––––––––––
Marti Lindell is an advocate for Seniors Aging in
Place and connects seniors to the services they need to
live independently in their own homes for as long as
possible. Contact her at 317-797-9598 or by email at:
[email protected]
22 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sign Up For Your Free Digital Version At IndyBoomer.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––