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Originally Posted by jee'smom  what do you mean by "i believe that children should be mature in their youth."
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Oh...definitely nothing like stripping their childhood away from them. LOL! Just basically what I stated above. Well behaved and well spoken. "That they know how to deal with the general public, both the positive and negative opinions voiced about the family size and how to address the comments, how to address other adults respectfully, manners, etc." I know that we peronally know a ton of homeschoolers...more specifically girls...that are raised to be this idealistic, babyfied, innocent, naive little thing. It is common to hear other homeschooling girls calling their moms "mommy" at the age of 17 and 18 and even 20. It just grates on my nerves. It's like they think it's this innocent, virginic, sexy type of naivety...and, honestly, I can't think of anyone in the professional world that will take a person seriously who still continues to call her mom "mommy". Do you really go into an interview or serve on a mission board or pratice as an RN and convince people you are capable when you are still tied to your mama's apron strings and calling home for mommy??? To me, it's about maturity and presenting yourself capable of the job at hand. Since I was very very sheltered and homeschooled from 3rd to 12th grade it hits close to home. I hit the world and didn't have a clue and got into a ton of trouble because of it. I was easily swayed and ended up living with a convict because I had no knowledge of anything other than a sheltered life where evil did not exist. I do not ever wish to throw my children out to the wolves so believe in thoroughly educating them but still protecting their hearts. I was never truly educated. One of those things where if you don't see it it's not really there. So, it's important for both dh and I to instill in them character and teach wisdom and discernment even in their youth. Since we homeschool we start the morning with Bible and teach a lot of Proverbs for Children curriculum based stuff...basically of just learning to be wise and alot of life principles. I don't put up with a lot of silliness either..mainly because it just drives me nuts. They can laugh and tease and have a good time but just don't be babyfied and silly about it....more specifically, don't act like you're 3 when you're really 7 or 10. And I see alot of kids today just out of control and parents just throwing their hands up with the whole "the kid's gonna be a kid" thing. So many children don't know how to relate to adults or act appropriately around them....because they are only exposed to peers their age or never really taught. We teach yes ma'am and yes sir, no ma'am and no sir, they hold open doors for others..or well....the little ones are getting there!!....and are not afraid to address adults. And we don't do everything for them. Our 12 yr old wanted a 5 ft snake he killed skinned but in order to do it he had 24 hrs to have it out of the freezer...I don't do snakes in the kitchen freezer!!...and he had to be the one to make the neccessary phone calls to deal with it. So, he did, made all of his own phone calls, found the best price and now proudly has a 5 ft snake skin hanging on the bedroom wall...along with an apprenticeship under the man who helped him do it. Pretty amazing! We're also very involved politically as a family. I think they just need to know this stuff and how life works...what makes the world go around...and how to deal with it all and do their part.
Not that we ever even begin to have it altogether or know what we're doing but at least the goal is to raise educated, happy, well spoken children that are well behaved and can exercise wisdom and discernment even in their youth and the choices that are made from a young age. Basically....just what every parent wants for their children.
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