Setting a Good Example for Our Youth

Connie Castanera

I often think about how our young people might think, and feel, when we adults behave as we do, and treat one another as we do. I can only imagine the messages that we send our children by our daily actions, and interactions with one another. From a young person's point of view, we must surely appear not to care about one another. 

Those that work outside the home may start their day by driving to work in a hurry, sometimes "flipping off" another, if they don't like the way the other person is driving.  It's not uncommon to see someone park in a handicapped spot, without a permit.  While at work, there can be a lack of support or validation for a job well done.   There can be jealousy, backbiting, unfair preferential treatment of some, sexual harassment, all of which can lead to a stressful work environment.

Let's teach our youth how to be tolerant and appreciative of others, by not engaging in the kind of behavior that we, ourselves don't want to be victims of.

That same stressed out person may be a parent who brings home all those negative emotions that they've been bombarded with throughout the day.  Too often this can result in a parent that is so consumed by the daily stresses of life that there is little or no positive energy left for their child or children at the end of the day.  It's easy to understand how one can fall into that trap. 

Let's let our children know how important they are in our life by finding a way to renew our energy, and interest in our families, when we walk in the door to our home.

The local and regional papers do a good job in featuring, on a daily basis, what is not working locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.  Along with all the bad news, there are some heartwarming stories about those that are making the world a better place to live.  However, what is generally featured on the front page, and subsequent pages, are good reasons to worry about the future of our community, country, and world. 

Let's focus more on good news and positive events in our community, when we talk at the dinner table, or at family gatherings.

Our young people get a daily dose, and sometimes an overdose, of negativity that comes in a variety of forms.  They are affected and impacted by the way we get along with or interact with family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, or even strangers.  They are also affected and impacted by the way we talk about our elected officials, or our local leaders.  How they are affected and impacted is directly related to what they see and hear from us.   It's very easy to get caught up in negative thoughts and behaviors.
 

Let's teach them respect by being respectful of others.

Our young people are very impressionable.  They observe everything around them.  They formulate their own opinions, judgments, and evaluations of the world around them, based on what they see and hear from all of us.  They look to us for guidance and understanding. 

Let's make a good impression on them. Let's conduct ourselves in such a way that it gives our young people hope for their future.  Let's show them that we respect one another, simply because they are our fellow human beings, even if we disagree with their point of view or politics. Let's celebrate our differences. Let's stand up for what we believe is right, but let's do it respectfully. Let's make a concerted effort to live our life in a way that sets a good example for our young people.  Our future depends on it.