How did your work background/work ethic help your family develop in such positive ways?
My husband and I both had parents who expected our best efforts. Not perfection but the best we could give. My father frequented quoted “A job worth doing is a job worth doing well.” He also told me countless times, “You can do anything you put your mind to,” a phrase I’ve drilled into my own children. Growing up, we weren’t allowed to quit. If we started something, we had to see it through. And we were taught to respect our elders and people in authority, and not consider ourselves better than anyone. So, when my first job started at the bottom (my first real “office” was the copy room--seriously), it didn’t occur to me to quit or to inform my employer that I required better digs.
Google Millennials (also known as GenMe) and countless articles pop up that describe a terrific group of kids who expect to be treated a certain way or they quit… or get their parents involved. Which well-intentioned, loving parents do. There are now companies who have instituted “Bring Your Parent to Work Day” just to handle all the question and concerns of parents who call bosses based on their child’s behalf.
How do you cope emotionally when you must watch a kid fail or endure hardships when a kid chooses not to listen/take your advice?
Watching a kid fall has to be the absolute hardest part of parenting. Failure is probably one of those inevitable things that we as parents would rather occur while our kids are at home. Then we can help them. Not do for them, but help them get back up… then get back up again.
Today I talked with a mom whose son had broken the law with some friends, and it wasn’t the first time. In a courtroom, as she had to decide whether or not to bail out her son, a wise court attorney advised her to let the boy do time. “He may learn,” the attorney said. “Get him out and he’ll stick with those kids and likely get into more trouble.” Neither wanted to voice what that could be.
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