Thoughts and stories, by Pal

This article has a lot of wisdom in it!  Some good ideas on how to not spoil children. A Recipe For Raising An Unspoiled Child By Nicholeen Peck  · August 24, 2016, in Meridian Magazine “Porter you are being whiny and you need to stop it.” my husband said in exasperation one evening after treating the children to a whole day of fun times, snacks, and even some souvenir t-shirts. Spencer, my husband, had had enough. The funny thing was that this whiny moment of Porter’s was the first occurrence of whininess and entitlement all day. I pondered the situation and realized that my husband had been set up to get to angry that night and Porter had been set up for whiny behavior too. He was behaving like children behave when they are spoiled and so was my husband. I started asking myself, “What could have changed this moment? Why are all of these normally self-governed people behaving this way?” How The Spoiling Happens No one wants to let their ...

I remember my mother, Ruth, a gifted school teacher, once had in her class the child of a medical doctor.  He was only 8 years old, but had been given everything any child could want, even before he realized he wanted it.  One year at Christmas he had been given a BB gun, and he wasn't even excited about it.  He never got excited about gifts given to him, because he hadn't had the gift of being allowed to "want" something, and then wait awhile to finally get it.  That is a great gift to children!  (Refer to my post on Dec. 1, 2013, "A Child's Christmas Prayer.) (I'll write another post later today, about my father, Orson Pratt Miles, who passed away 38 years ago today.)    These are ideas for helping children learn to become independent, happy adults, and not overindulging at Christmas time.  These two articles were in "The Spectrum", a local newspaper, today, Dec. 14, 2013.   Build Christmas spirit in your children this year (condens...

 I'm not sure how well we taught gratitude to our large family.  I do notice when a child or grandchild thanks me for something I do for them, (or anyone else.)  It's strange but we often will show gratitude to someone not in our family, and take our family members for granted.  It doesn't only apply to material things, but whenever a kindness has been shown, we should thank someone for it.   It is rather obvious that many children, and people of all ages today feel sort of "entitled" to things, and it is important to stop and appreciate them!  In one grandchild's Patriarchal blessing, it counsels them to show others that they appreciate the good that they do through phone calls and short notes of recognition and gratitude.  It says they will be grateful for the love they receive in return.  It is true that when we thank someone, we do receive love back!  I have been the recipient of many "Thank You" notes, and it always warms my heart. ...