It’s time for an unpopular opinion. And I say “unpopular” because I see and hear how kids are not held to a certain standard, the standards are lowering instead of kids being raised to excel.
As parents, our job is to raise them up, to train them. We’re raising men and women. Men and women who will lead and share their own opinions and have families and make big decisions.
As their mamas, we need to model this to them. If you struggle with this ask yourself some questions:
- Do I view myself as mature enough to handle tasks and make hard decisions in our uncertain world?
- Do I know what I believe?
- Do I know who I am?
- Did my parents raise me and hold me up to a certain standard?
- Where am I lacking in holding my kids to a certain standard?
My daughter is two and she can (and sometimes willingly) unloads the dishwasher, gets out her breakfast, she knows how to turn on the stove, she cleans up all her toys, “reads” to her brother, she could tell you how to make oatmeal and the ingredients for waffles. She can pull up her own pants and can change a diaper.
She spills and wobbles and fumbles over her words because she’s learning, but she’s capable. And she knows she’s capable.
If we want our kids to be willing, to be helpful, to be the men and women we dream for them to be, we need to expect them, and teach them, to be willing and helpful and bold and daring and humble and kind and wise.