A Legacy of Time

It's another pleasant day in our little lake town here in the Midwest. Ryan went fishing this morning and it was a perfect day to catch crappies. I know sounds like something nasty! It's actually pronounced Croppie. It's a pan fish that is really biting this week. Our freezer is getting fuller. It's pretty tasty and we are only just beginning to learn some great recipe's for cooking it.

Today Ryan had yet another rude adult yell at him in near the lake while he was fishing. Yeah, they yelled at him and told him to "Get out of here! You don't belong here kid!" Or something close to that and twice as nasty. He of course pulled his association card out of his pocket and respectfully told the man that he was an association member. The man walked away! No apology. No remorse. This wasn't the first time this has happened either.

I have a hard time understanding why people are so rude to kids. Especially when my son is a good kid and he was doing something wholesome like fishing. He wasn't taking drugs, or drinking or making out with someones daughter. He was simply fishing and enjoying the outdoors. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why kids today are doing things that are wrong. Maybe sometimes adults just expect them to be rotten and so they give up and do what is expected!

I know, this isn't my normal happy blog entry. I just want everyone to wake up! Encourage kids to be good. Expect it of them! My kids behave because they know that is what I expect them to do. I don't believe in the self-fulfilling prophesy of thinking all kids are going to be rotten. Think it and they will!

Teach kids to do good things. Be an example! Take time to teach them how to fish. Sit on a dock with your legs dangling over the edge and talk to your son or daughter! Spend time with them. Tell them stories of things that made you feel good about what you were doing in life. Talk about God. Share your hopes and dreams. Show them that you care enough to spend a moment in time with just them. I know it works. I'm a mom and last week, I went fishing with my son. He felt loved and I was so happy! We are building memories for a lifetime. Someday, he's going to go fishing with his son or daughter and the legacy of time spent well will be passed on to my adorable grandchildren. Life is so good!