Since Friday, I have had three different people tell me (one called me on the phone just for this reason) that my kids are very good. I was told that my kids are well-behaved, respectful, and nice.
The fact that people seem to seek me (and my beloved hubby) out to tell us this, leads me to believe that perhaps we are, sadly, unusual. We have taught them to be these qualities since they were tiny. Of course, in public they tend to show their angelic sides and so the bickering and rambunctiousness at home doesn't get seen by the "outside". Nonetheless, I would have to say, my kids are darn nice, as people go.
But the problem lies in this: These comments about them are usually told to me within hearing range of my kids. Sounds like a good way to encourage kids to continue being good? Well, yes, except what about the naughty kids that are all around them in the supermarket, church, dance class... don't get more than a hush to their disruptions. My kids did at lovely job alter-serving at today's mass. The only issue was a child who refused to kneel at the right time, swung his rope into other alter servers, and not paying attention to what needed to be done. It only takes one child who is disruptive to cause the other "good" kids to want to see the problem fixed, or change to nature of the kids. If one child s allowed to be hostile, apathetic, or any other negative actions... it will influence "how good" my kids could possibly become.
So the Elelphantt in the room, is the naughty chidren are therre. Causeing distress to my well-behaving kids. Are my kids supposed to give peer pressure on the kids to correct their behaviour? Then my kids get the brunt
I think probably parents, grandparents, deacons, priests, and other parishioners might think about saying something helpful to parents overseeing the harder kids. There are no rule books....but honest folk who can ask a kind question.
