This is a letter to the editor regarding gang violence.
What if we were proactive rather than reactive? What if we focused on the positive things about our kids rather than the negative? What if we said things to them (no matter what their age) when they misbehaved like, “That is not like you. It is like you to respect and care about others. It is not like you to hurt people with your actions or your words. It is like you to encourage one another and respect others’ property. It is like you to treat others like you would like to be treated.”
What do I know about parenting? I have seven biological children (same husband, only been married once and for 59 years) and then seven foster children. My seven kids are great! Our oldest has her own cafe in Bothell. Our second is mentally handicapped but inspires others by her attitude and picture puzzle record (she’s been working on them since 2007 before she had brain surgery) — she’s working on number 85 now. Our third is an advocate for foreign exchange students. Our fourth works for a non-profit local charity. Our fifth works for a heating and ventilating company and is an umpire/president in Oregon. Number six works with autistic children in a preschool in California. And number seven is a chef at a restaurant in Maui. They are awesome kids. They have pursued the dreams and desires in their heart and are very successful at what they are doing.
I have a Connect meeting for children once a month and teach them the principles of the Bible and how to deal with issues that may be challenging to them. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go (and in keeping with his individual gift or bent), and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
What if we actually did that?
I have Connect meetings for the parents twice a month and we deal with all kinds of issues. Ephesians 6:4: “Fathers (or mothers), do not irritate and provoke your children to anger (do not exasperate them to resentment), but rear them (tenderly) in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.”
What do you think parents? Does this make sense to you? You in?
Charlotte Jennings, Federal Way
