Acorns Don't Fall Far from the Tree

by Jerry Bullock

Children are so doggone smart. We have a 10-year-old grandson. His name is Darien but he prefers to be called Mike. Mike lives in Virginia. He and his mother were here visiting a few weeks ago and we took Mike to What-a-Burger. Since they do not have these restaurants in Virginia, he had never eaten at one before. He had a big burger combo with fries and a drink. As he was finishing up I told him that What-a-Burger had the best milkshakes and the best price of anyone. I went on to say, “Maybe we can get you one before you leave.”

Without missing a beat, he said,” Why not now?”

Somewhat taken aback, I said, “Well, I did not think you would want one since you have just eaten a lot.”

With the same nonchalance, Mike said, “Seize the moment.”

He got the milkshake, but where would he learn a fairly complex phrase well beyond his years. Obviously he had heard someone use the phrase, Seize the moment, (Carpe Diem, seize the day).

Children will always reflect their environment. They will repeat both the words and the emotions of a parent, a teacher and, of course, their peers. Those around us and especially those who are important to us will give children their morals, their prejudices, their fears, and their worldview.

A newborn baby is amoral. He or she has no concept of good and evil, right or wrong, good or bad. Their only fear is they may starve. They have no prejudice, no conscience, and no worldview outside of the crib and a mother and father’s arms.

How quickly that changes. Whether it changes for good or ill is the product of the child’s most significant others. My youngest daughter and her three daughters are such a good illustration of this. My daughter is terrified of police officers and tornadoes, neither of which has ever bothered her. The fear of police officers is especially inexplicable since her father and her older brother both were career police officers and she herself worked very successfully as a prison guard in uniform. As to tornadoes, she would go into lockdown if the TV reporter said there was a tornado warning in Bangladesh.

The three girls are just like their mother. When there is a cloud in the sky, they will be glued to the TV weather channel. They know all of the colors that indicate the strength of the storm and panic when the National Weather Report issues a tornado warning anywhere in the state of Texas.

How we want our children to behave is largely up to us. Your fears will become their fears; your prejudices will become their prejudices; your respect for the law and the rights of others will become the way your children will regard such things.

Our children are really smart. They want guidance and care from those that they love. They feel cheated when they live in an “anything goes” atmosphere. They are watching you whether you are a parent, a schoolteacher, a friend, or a Sunday school teacher. Their worldview is in your hands. Handle it with care.