Dear parents,
As a person who deals with the public on a daily basis and as an active member of many social media sites, I am writing this letter today to ask if you could teach your children a few things. Now this does not apply to all parents and children, just some. I know for a fact that some parents teach all of these things and more to their children, because I have met some of them, my family included. This letter is not meant to be sarcastic or written with ill intent. It is just observations I have made throughout the years and would like to share with you.
As a person who deals with the public on a daily basis and as an active member of many social media sites, I am writing this letter today to ask if you could teach your children a few things. Now this does not apply to all parents and children, just some. I know for a fact that some parents teach all of these things and more to their children, because I have met some of them, my family included. This letter is not meant to be sarcastic or written with ill intent. It is just observations I have made throughout the years and would like to share with you.
First of all, teach your children respect. Respect for each other. Respect for adults. Respect for other people’s belongings. Respect for the world in general. But most importantly, teach them respect for themselves. Teach them that they are worth something and that they have value. That they are loved and can do anything they put their minds to. Teach them that they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up as long as they are happy and love what they do. Let them explore, let them make mistakes so they can learn from them, and let them choose their own path with your guidance. Guide them on the path that is right for them, whatever that may be.
Teach them to say “yes, ma’am(sir)” and “no, ma’am(sir)”, “please”, and “thank you.” Teach them to hold a door for someone, smile at others, brighten someone’s day. Teach them to respond when someone says “Hello” or “Have a Nice Day.” Teach them about charity and giving back and kindness toward others.
Teach them sympathy and empathy for others. We all have our own struggles. Teach them to lift someone up if they are having a bad day or going through a rough path. Teach them that laughter is the best medicine and that happiness and kindness are contagious.
Teach your children that everyone has their own opinions and that no one person's opinion is better than another. Your opinions of someone or something is just that - your opinions. Children are sponges and they pick up everything. Also they hear things even when you think they don't. We may not always agree with other people or with one another, but that’s okay. That’s what makes up life. If we all agreed on everything, the world would be a boring place. Teach them that it’s okay to disagree with others, but to respect that someone may not agree with them. It’s not that the other person is wrong, it’s just that they disagree.
Teach them that one person is not better than another. We are all God's children and we all have to live together on this earth. So why not live in peace and harmony. Teach equality - that every person should have the same rights as everyone else regardless of religion, race, sexual orientation or anything. Teach them that people have rights and that there are laws that protect those rights. Teach them free speech and that they have the right to express themselves and their beliefs, but make sure to tell them to never use these rights to hurt, shame, or outcast others.
Teach them that God made everyone different and we should embrace those differences and not judge or condemn them. And let your children make up their own minds about the world. Don't force your beliefs on them; listen to them and what they have to say. And please, please, please, don't teach hate or bullying to your kids. Hate comes from a lot of different places. Maybe you were raised a certain way, maybe you had past experiences that cause you to feel a certain way about something or someone, but instead of spreading the negativity why not rise above it and say “This is not how I want to be.” This is not how I want to raise my kids. My past does not dictate my future. We all have skeletons in our closets, but leave them there. Choose to change and choose love and hope and acceptance. Shelter them from the hate and prejudice as much as possible and instead teach them to love and accept one another BECAUSE of their differences. Children are not born to hate and bully, they are TAUGHT.
Now I am, by no means, trying to tell you how to raise your kids, because it is your right to do so as you please. And I am NOT a parent, but I have seen the opposite of all of these teachings. It's a world full of rude and disrespectful children who are full of hate, prejudice, and arrogance. This is not the kind of world I want to live in and wouldn't want my child, or any other child they come in contact with to live in. Choose to raise your children to love and to accept, and to value themselves. This is the kind of world I want to live in. Don’t you?
Sincerely,
A concerned citizen
Teach them to say “yes, ma’am(sir)” and “no, ma’am(sir)”, “please”, and “thank you.” Teach them to hold a door for someone, smile at others, brighten someone’s day. Teach them to respond when someone says “Hello” or “Have a Nice Day.” Teach them about charity and giving back and kindness toward others.
Teach them sympathy and empathy for others. We all have our own struggles. Teach them to lift someone up if they are having a bad day or going through a rough path. Teach them that laughter is the best medicine and that happiness and kindness are contagious.
Teach your children that everyone has their own opinions and that no one person's opinion is better than another. Your opinions of someone or something is just that - your opinions. Children are sponges and they pick up everything. Also they hear things even when you think they don't. We may not always agree with other people or with one another, but that’s okay. That’s what makes up life. If we all agreed on everything, the world would be a boring place. Teach them that it’s okay to disagree with others, but to respect that someone may not agree with them. It’s not that the other person is wrong, it’s just that they disagree.
Teach them that one person is not better than another. We are all God's children and we all have to live together on this earth. So why not live in peace and harmony. Teach equality - that every person should have the same rights as everyone else regardless of religion, race, sexual orientation or anything. Teach them that people have rights and that there are laws that protect those rights. Teach them free speech and that they have the right to express themselves and their beliefs, but make sure to tell them to never use these rights to hurt, shame, or outcast others.
Teach them that God made everyone different and we should embrace those differences and not judge or condemn them. And let your children make up their own minds about the world. Don't force your beliefs on them; listen to them and what they have to say. And please, please, please, don't teach hate or bullying to your kids. Hate comes from a lot of different places. Maybe you were raised a certain way, maybe you had past experiences that cause you to feel a certain way about something or someone, but instead of spreading the negativity why not rise above it and say “This is not how I want to be.” This is not how I want to raise my kids. My past does not dictate my future. We all have skeletons in our closets, but leave them there. Choose to change and choose love and hope and acceptance. Shelter them from the hate and prejudice as much as possible and instead teach them to love and accept one another BECAUSE of their differences. Children are not born to hate and bully, they are TAUGHT.
Now I am, by no means, trying to tell you how to raise your kids, because it is your right to do so as you please. And I am NOT a parent, but I have seen the opposite of all of these teachings. It's a world full of rude and disrespectful children who are full of hate, prejudice, and arrogance. This is not the kind of world I want to live in and wouldn't want my child, or any other child they come in contact with to live in. Choose to raise your children to love and to accept, and to value themselves. This is the kind of world I want to live in. Don’t you?
Sincerely,
A concerned citizen