By Curt Williams, Founder & Executive Director
The third of the Five Things You Owe Your Kids is shelter. Now, any sane parent would seek to shelter their young, as even animals build nests and dens to protect their offspring, but let us look at the contrast between what is required and what we actually provide.
According to the law, a child’s home must have hot and cold running water, be relatively free of insects and vermin, free of mold and have heat in the winter. There is no requirement for air conditioning, and (I love this one) there is no requirement that they have a bedroom, much less their own bedroom. If they have a pallet to sleep on in the kitchen or hallway, this is legal. Now, why do I bring up points like these? To show you the many extras that we provide to kids that even the state does not require of us. We provide much, much more, and often we are providing these things to little people who feel entitled to them. In most homes, there is more technology and more computer processing power than what man used to fly to the moon during the Apollo missions. They have televisions, video game consoles, cell phones and tablets. What is missing from most kids’ bedrooms? Books.
All of these extras are also tools for the wise parent, as they can be eliminated or restricted from a child who is lazy, disrespectful or distracted. If they cannot do their homework, they should lose their entertainment. If they do not respect your home, they should lose the privileges that come with living in your home.
Children are born with a selfish Adamic nature, and it is your job to build within these little savages the forever elements of character, honesty, honor and hard work. To do less is not love, and to do less does not prepare them for the cruel world they are living in. You can do this!
Order Curt’s book, White Knuckle Parenting, for more wisdom on raising kids at every age.
