It's all over the web. Kids are growing up too fast! They are acting too mature!
The Pre-Tween Years-How to Keep your kids from growing up too fast
Whatever Happened to Childhood?
Modern Childhood ends at age 12
Most of the concerns with kids growing up too fast is obvious-- wearing revealing clothing or make up a young age, dating at a young age, maybe smoking or drinking underage, becoming concerned with personal appearance.
Ok, I get that none of those things are good. But, since when do those things make you "grown up"? As far as I can tell, none of those things signal real maturity, even in adults. Therefore, I have a different point of view.
Kids aren't growing up too fast. They aren't growing up fast enough! In ways that really make someone mature. Such as thinking of someone else instead of yourself, putting the needs of others ahead of your own. Taking responsibility for your own actions, and being self-motivated in studies and hobbies. Being kind to others, and respectful to elders and family members.
THESE are the things that show that you are "growing up". Not whether you get to wear make-up, or go to the movies unchaperoned.
We should be encouraging our children to grow up, to "act mature"... that is, real maturity. The maturity that is gained by taking our Christian faith seriously and becoming more like Him everyday.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Monday, August 3, 2015
Where the Rooster Crows
Where we live, there are a handful of roosters that leave near us and we hear them crowing throughout the day. There is rarely a time that a full minute passes that we don't hear a rooster crowing. (I used to have the impression that roosters only crowed first thing in the morning, when the sun came up. What a laugh!) Most of the time, I don't notice, or if I do, it doesn't bother me. But, sometimes, for unknown reasons, it bothers me. A lot. Like do these things ever shut up??
That seems to be a symbol of living here. There are so many little things here that are different, or that don't seem to work as we expect, and I usually don't notice or it doesn't bother me at all. Once in a while though, I feel like shouting, "Can't anything work right!?"
So many things here are different. We have a milkman that rides his bike up to our gate and sells up fresh milk in washed out soda bottles. A man rides his bike down our street selling fish from a basket on his bike. We can't go on a walk anywhere without stares, points, and "Mzungu! Mzungu!" (White person). We have to buy bottled water, or use a filter because the water is literally sandy when it comes out of the pipe. You can see a layer of sand if you fill a pot with it, and it is a brownish color. You are expected to greet everyone: the shopkeeper, the guy riding by on a bike, the strangers walking down the road. The electricity can go out at any time, for unknown reasons, and stay off for hours without any explanation. There are so many things that are different from our culture.
Sometimes, I don't even notice, like the stray dogs that wander the neighborhood, or the chickens that roam free on the street. It doesn't phase me to see 4 people on a motorcycle, one of them an infant (no helmets of course). I don't bat an eye to see several men hanging off the back of a semi truck on the highway. Most of the time things don't bother me. I enjoy shopping for vegetables at the market every week. We are used to seeing monkeys in our yard all of the time.
But sometimes, occasionally, Things Bother Me. I'm glad these times aren't very often. The other day, I was at the market, and the stall vendors were shoving vegetables in my face (as usual), and asking me what I wanted, and how much of what, etc. They do this every week. But, for some reason, it suddenly was too much. I couldn't figure out how to say "Leave me alone" in Swahili, because I was so flustered. Finally, I was able to buy what I needed and get out of there.
It's like you never really get over culture shock. No matter how long you're here, it will sneak up and grab you unexpectedly out of the blue. I'm very thankful that it doesn't get me very often.
That seems to be a symbol of living here. There are so many little things here that are different, or that don't seem to work as we expect, and I usually don't notice or it doesn't bother me at all. Once in a while though, I feel like shouting, "Can't anything work right!?"
So many things here are different. We have a milkman that rides his bike up to our gate and sells up fresh milk in washed out soda bottles. A man rides his bike down our street selling fish from a basket on his bike. We can't go on a walk anywhere without stares, points, and "Mzungu! Mzungu!" (White person). We have to buy bottled water, or use a filter because the water is literally sandy when it comes out of the pipe. You can see a layer of sand if you fill a pot with it, and it is a brownish color. You are expected to greet everyone: the shopkeeper, the guy riding by on a bike, the strangers walking down the road. The electricity can go out at any time, for unknown reasons, and stay off for hours without any explanation. There are so many things that are different from our culture.
Sometimes, I don't even notice, like the stray dogs that wander the neighborhood, or the chickens that roam free on the street. It doesn't phase me to see 4 people on a motorcycle, one of them an infant (no helmets of course). I don't bat an eye to see several men hanging off the back of a semi truck on the highway. Most of the time things don't bother me. I enjoy shopping for vegetables at the market every week. We are used to seeing monkeys in our yard all of the time.
But sometimes, occasionally, Things Bother Me. I'm glad these times aren't very often. The other day, I was at the market, and the stall vendors were shoving vegetables in my face (as usual), and asking me what I wanted, and how much of what, etc. They do this every week. But, for some reason, it suddenly was too much. I couldn't figure out how to say "Leave me alone" in Swahili, because I was so flustered. Finally, I was able to buy what I needed and get out of there.
It's like you never really get over culture shock. No matter how long you're here, it will sneak up and grab you unexpectedly out of the blue. I'm very thankful that it doesn't get me very often.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
What do we do for fun?
We are still on school break, although school will be starting up again next week for us.
As most families during a school break, our kids act bored and want to be entertained. If I allowed them, they would sit in front of a TV, computer or Wii all day. However, I want more for them.
I want their childhood to be filled with memories of tree houses, bike rides, playing with Barbies and Legos, coloring in coloring books, and making forts. If everything they do is on a video game, what real memories will they carry of their childhood with them into adulthood? This is a magical time, where imagination can grow and dream. I don't want an electronic device deaden that imagination.
Nature Valley put out a video about what three generations did for fun as kids. Nature Valley Video
Another concern I have is that if they are entertaining themselves electronically all the time as children, what will they do as adults? Will they only know how to interact with the world through their phones? I forgot my Phone video
One thing that we do at our house, is have "No TV or electronics day" on Sundays. No movies, video games, e-mail, etc. for one day. At first (for a few months) the kids would complain most of the day. But, they have started to find things to do. We usually go out on Sundays and spend time as a family, or have company over. I like to remind ourselves that we don't "need" to be entertained electronically.
As most families during a school break, our kids act bored and want to be entertained. If I allowed them, they would sit in front of a TV, computer or Wii all day. However, I want more for them.
I want their childhood to be filled with memories of tree houses, bike rides, playing with Barbies and Legos, coloring in coloring books, and making forts. If everything they do is on a video game, what real memories will they carry of their childhood with them into adulthood? This is a magical time, where imagination can grow and dream. I don't want an electronic device deaden that imagination.
Nature Valley put out a video about what three generations did for fun as kids. Nature Valley Video
Another concern I have is that if they are entertaining themselves electronically all the time as children, what will they do as adults? Will they only know how to interact with the world through their phones? I forgot my Phone video
One thing that we do at our house, is have "No TV or electronics day" on Sundays. No movies, video games, e-mail, etc. for one day. At first (for a few months) the kids would complain most of the day. But, they have started to find things to do. We usually go out on Sundays and spend time as a family, or have company over. I like to remind ourselves that we don't "need" to be entertained electronically.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)