Foremost on my Mind: Who's Crying Now?

There is no question that my greatest joy in these past two-to-three years has been the safe and healthy arrival, as well as their subsequent development, of grandchildren. Even if there aren't anymore, I will consider myself a very fortunate person.

The “anymore” comment, by the way, is not an announcement, pronouncement, or denouncement, either. (I know, I know, the word is “denunciation,” but it doesn't help my witty symmetry--so knock it off, Maurice.)

I'm sure many readers can relate to the joy that grandchildren bring.

So let's talk about those grand kids of yours, mine, and ours—but not in a bragging, blathering way...please. In fact, let's add all the children of today to this discussion. Hard to think that the babies who need their diapers changed today will be the consumers who will need their oil changed tomorrow.

Children who become adults also become voters, merchants, politicians, professionals, stakeholders, and more. Scary thought, indeed, but perhaps for reasons other than the ones that are racing through your head.

You see, on a recent trip to Kamloops, BC, having spent part of a morning at a community park with two of those little darlings, it was a bit of a wake-up call for me. Years ago, I actually started my teaching career in Kamloops. Based on the merciless calendar, it's quite feasible that some of the young mothers present at the park that day could have been students of mine two decades ago. If not them, then at least they represent those former students.

You might say that, over the years, I have taught children, who are now having children—who will one day have children themselves. (Quick: Where's my cane? And my teeth, while you're at it.)

I was with my own grandchildren, children of a child herself who has become an adult—and a very competent mother, I might add. It seems just like yesterday that this very daughter herself was playing with her siblings in a water park in Kamloops. My, oh, my, where did the last twenty years go?

Our children have been given to us as a gift; or, consider them like clay or putty or blank paper in our hands. Their grasp of ethics, morality, virtue, spirituality, manners, and more, are in our hands. Frightening, isn't it?

Some of those duties we hand off to day school, Sunday school, grandparents, and YTV. The more we hand off the training of our gifts (= children), the less direct influence we have over those children. That has been happening for years—and we are seeing the direct results today.

That is one reason, I may insert here, why some people home educate.

So, back to me, and you, and all other responsible parents and grandparents: How am I preparing my kids and grand kids to assume the reins for the next generation? How are we training our kids in view of education, marriage, finances, ethnicity, and employment (just for starters)? However, even before we ask that question, we first need to take a serious look at the pursuit of character, namely, sincerity, honesty, diligence, and whole host of other virtues.

We really, really need to develop a generation of soon-to-be leaders who are men and women of character. In other words, the pillars of integrity, ethics, morality, and conviction are really the supports of the overall societal structure, if you will. Re-stated: If we are raising children to be upright and honest, we are establishing a basis that will stand them (and others) in good stead for the future--and for generations to come.

You see, that three-year-old who stands up in his or her crib and screams at his or her parents may end up being the thirty-three-year-old who stands on the street corner and screams at the government someday, if we're not diligent in training them.

Or hopefully, he or she may be the person of the hour when there is an economic or moral crisis in our community. That training process doesn't start when they're teens, either; it starts much, much younger than that.

Do we want our kids or grand kids to make a difference in their generation? I'm sure we all do. If you dawdle, those children might be having their own children—and we'll be yet another generation out.