It’s back to school time, and I just wanted to encourage parents to think before we speak (in person or online). Our dear, sweet children are always listening to the words we say. Even when we think they aren’t.
I know that many of us are excited about school starting back. It’s the start of a new year of learning and friendships and adventure. It’s also a time to get back into a regular, predictable schedule. But please watch what we say in front of the kids.
When parents gleefully drop their kids off at school with plans to go out and celebrate their new found “freedom,” what message does that send our kids? That we can’t wait to get rid of them? That it’s a good thing they’re “someone else’s problem” now?
With all the messages that our society sends that children are a burden (and not a blessing), let’s not add to that by making our children think that we love our freedom more than we do them.
In case you think it’s no big deal to celebrate the return of “kids free time,” just imagine how you’d feel if your husband said something like this:
“Thank goodness vacation is over! I don’t think I could stand to spend another day with my wife. I mean, I love her, but that many days together was just more that I can take. I really need some time to myself.”
Just a thought.
A Daughter of the Reformation 
I’m afraid I can’t detect even a fragment of Christian reasoning as to why the children should be, as usual, sent “back to school”. And if such thoughts as you describe should arise, surely there must be a deeper reflection required than that such thoughts ought to be kept from children’s ears?! Does that, in your mind, constitute a successful parental engagement with the subject? What about the casually framed notion of “freedom” you invoke?
Shocking and disturbing. But in view of the times, tragically, not surprising.
LikeLike
Not everyone can homeschool. For most people, children are headed back to school. I agree that there is a heart issue here. But like I said, it was a short thought on the subject, and not a longer blog post.
LikeLike
Thank you for that thought. This idea of ‘back-to-school-parental-freedom’ floods the TV and air waves and now even Facebook as advertising focusing on this lucrative time of year. We get a chuckle over some of the more creative ads, but you are right. We should think of the message from our child’s perspective. They don’t see the ads the same way we do and they may be hurt thinking their parents are happy to be away from them for most of the day. That is certainly not the case, at least not for us.
LikeLike
Love the closing thought. I would be mortified if my husband said that about me! Oh my word!
LikeLike