Teaching Respect and Obedience to Children

According to a Reader’s Digest article the United States is only 10th out of 13 countries who make teaching obedience and respect a priority with their children. In my opinion, that’s at the bottom of the totem pole!

What has happened to parenting? And, is it no wonder so many kids in the United States are out of control?

As children age, after having gotten their own ways by arguing and temper tantrums, and after talking back to their parents from toddler years on up, young adolescents gain the power to control situations at home, school, and social environments.

I found the Digest article quite disturbing, and the statistics alone explain why there is so much violence among American youth.

Teaching obedience and respect to children has become obsolete in that parents today want to be “liked” instead of respected. They buy for their kids. They do for their kids…. without any thought of future consequences. It seems parents today don’t like to say “no”.

Lack of respecting authority, not just parental authority, but also the authority of teachers and law enforcers has made those professions harder , more complex, and more dangerous.

And, unfortunately, the few households who do teach their children to respect others are in such minority that their children suffer due to society’s acceptance of “children’s rights”.

My children had the right to food, clothing, shelter, and safety… which was provided lovingly and unselfishly. Above that, they had responsibilities that gave them additional privileges. Today, they are all successful entrepreneurs and I’m very proud of them.

The Reader’s Digest article discloses that parents in Brazil came in first in teaching their children respect and obedience today… followed by Philippines, Spain, Mexico, South Africa, India, France, Malaysia, and the Netherlands… all higher on the list than the United States.

Again I ask, “What has happened to parenting?”

Have the focus groups and the social promotions of political rationale excused wise and necessary training of our young?

As young Americans become parents in their own right, the ability to teach respect and obedience skills to their own kids is not one of their talents. In the Philippines, 100 per cent of older respondents to the poll say teaching respect and obedience is their main priority. But, not in the United States!

How can we convince young parents today to reverse the trend of giving in to their toddlers? How can we convince young parents they need to use loving discipline and guidance for their children to mature into productive teens?

Perhaps you are that now young parent and have ideas to pass along. Take a long hard look at your child and discover the potential to respect you and obey your loving guidance.

Wise parenting means teaching your child respect and obedience for all people, but especially for you.