Influence ( The power or capacity to cause an effect)

We are influenced by everything around us, by our families, our friends, what we watch, read or listen to.

As parents we need to be a good influence on our children by setting a good example and teaching them good from bad.

My mother always said " charity begins at home ", and to that I add good influence begins at home.

Do you show love to each other, do you show an interest  and respect for each other ?

Do you really know each other ? Do you spend some time each day with your children? Do you
know who your children's friends are ? What their interests are ? Do you set an example for them to follow?

Do your children hear you swearing, using vulgar language ? Do you condone bad manners by having them yourself , and not teaching them good manners ?

Do you teach them to not cheat or steal or hurt others ?

When your children do something bad, do you tell them they are bad, or do you tell them what they did was bad ?  If you tell them they are bad often enough and long enough, they will believe you and start to be bad because you are telling them they are. Children need to know the difference between being  and doing  bad.

When I was a little girl and would do something bad, my mother would tell me that doing bad things makes you look ugly. She knew all little girls like to be pretty and would rather do good things so they would look pretty. And boys like to be strong, so she would say," it's easy to be bad, but you show how strong you are if you are good, not bad".

Home is where all good things should begin. If our children are taught to be good at home, when they are away from home that good influence will help them be good then too.

Of course we as parents should show our children how to be good by being good ourselves.

Being a good parent is the most important job in the world. Teaching our children to be good, and showing them by our example will be the best influence we can give them.

New Years Resolution

Most of us have started out the new year with our " New Years Resolutions" and I hope we can keep at least most of them.

On behalf of the children in our country and every country I ask you to add one more resolution, and that is to spend some or more time with a small child.

Our children, perhaps unknowingly crave the same things we do, attention, recognition, praise and love. And yet we "adults" are so busy seeking what we feel we need that we sometimes forget that the little ones need those things too.

It is a proven fact that young children learn quicker and better from birth to age 6 or 8 years of age than any other age. They develop " life habits" during those formative years and it's up to us to teach them "good" life habits, like the desire to want to read and learn helpful and beneficial things, and to treat others the way they want to be treated.

Some say "oh, they are too young to learn". Well I'm here to tell you that is just not true. If you don't believe it just watch how fast a little one learns that if they throw their toy on the floor while sitting on your lap you will pick it up, and they have learned a new game.

I recently saw a You Tube of several small Asian children playing guitars in concert, they were so small the guitars looked enormous in their little laps. And the music and harmony that came from those little ones was astounding ! Someone may say how did they do that ? I'll tell you how, someone took the time to teach them. And they were incredible.

Unfortunately we give children electronic and mechanical games and toys and they learn perhaps more from them (and not always good things) than from us.I'm not opposed to those kind of toys, I just think the children need more human relationship.

So please resolve to spend some time with a little one, playing a game or reading to them orperhaps teaching them art or music or just taking a walk and enjoying nature.

Our little ones truly are gifts, so lets show our appreciation for them by giving them a bit of ourselves and letting them know we care.

Next time I will give you a couple of hints on how to teach a child while spending time with them.

Keep in mind, I am just an old grandma who loves children and what I give you is what I call " horse sense" or just old fashioned common sense. I do not claim to be an educator.

Until next time show kindness,
Grandma Joy