Family Friday

*Family Fridays contain stories and tips on raising healthy, godly families.

At the mall playground, children were leaping from obstacle to obstacle. Their excitement was evident by the shrill squeals that bounced back from the white walls.

Our son, Fischer, was already out of the game. He and another boy had collided at full speed. The other boy's head was fine, but Fischer's eye was not so fortunate.

As I comforted Fischer, I watched two other boys playing together. Boy #1 jumped onto a playground obstacle and was joined a few seconds later by Boy #2. Boy #1 didn't like this and shoved Boy #2 off with a snarl. He proceeded to jump down and chase the second boy, swinging and kicking at him. Luckily, Boy #2 treated it like a game and was able to evade his aggressor.

Meanwhile, I was thinking, "Where in the world are his parents?"

There is a maxim that all parents should learn from this episode:
Inaction is just as powerful a teacher as action.

If parents do NOT correct their children, they are, in essence, teaching their children that said action is acceptable. When disciplining children, silence usually means, "Go ahead and do it!"

Parents continue to get weaker and weaker in the battle with their children. It boggles my mind how many people "let things go" that their children are doing...especially when it comes to common sense and courtesy. How can you let your child swing at other children? Or push them down to reclaim a toy? Or mouth off to another adult?

Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now!

But please remember that inaction speaks to your children just as loudly as action.