For a moment it looked like a game of “Chicken” and I was appalled to see the elderly couple veer around the group of women, as the ladies just kept on walking and talking.
Was it intentional?
Did the three young ladies purposely stand their ground and not give way
to an elderly couple?
Were they unaware?
Was the conversation they were having so totally engrossing that they
didn’t even realize they were on a collision course with the couple and their
cart?
Could it have been ignorance on their part? Maybe no one ever taught them to respect
their elders, or to be courteous to others?
No matter the excuse, in my personal opinion, the three
should have moved around the man and his wife.
It’s like
·
holding the door for someone
·
picking up something that has been dropped when
the other person has their hands full
·
offering to help someone carry their bags, when
they obviously have too many to handle
It’s the right thing to do.
It’s the kind thing to do.
How can we be sure that our children are aware of the
various ways to show kindness to others?
The answer is simple. We lead by
example. We teach our children to be
aware of their surroundings, so they can see a need/meet a need. And then, we walk the talk.
When children are young, they are very impressionable. They will copy what their parents do. Be aware.
Little eyes are watching, and little ears are listening. Of course, once they become teenagers, many
children choose to try not to be anything like their parents. But, what they’ve learned early in life
sticks with them.
Be a great example for your children to emulate. Behave as you would like them to behave. Show them the path to follow. Kindness matters.
*Pam Horton is a certified Parenting Coach in the Raleigh
area.
