MI MADRE

"Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love." - Stevie Wonder

Madre

In Greek it's, "Mite-era." spelt, "Μητέρα". The Finnish use "Äiti", and in French it's "Mère." The Germans go a little off, and say it's, "Mutter" - pronounced almost like "Mortar". Still the Spanish prefer "Madre", and commonly in Africa, we call her, "Mama."

A man stopped at a flower shop to order some flowers to be wired to his mother who lived two hundred miles away. As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing. Asking her what the problem was, she gave him this reply, "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother and I don’t have enough money." The man smiled and said, "Come on in with me. I’ll buy you a rose." He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother’s flowers. As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home. She said, "Yes, please! You can take me to my mother."
She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave. The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up a bouquet and drove the two hundred miles to his mother’s house.

THE GIFT OF FAMILY (14); RAISING MORAL CHILDREN II

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her." - George Washington

 

 

There should be a moral connection between parents and their children, because the connected child begins their moral growth with some fundamental qualities like trust and sensitivity. These type of "early values" make it easier for parents to teach a child the "dos and don’ts" of existence. Moral parents can let the child understand right from wrong, and what’s expected per circumstance; thus the child believes unequivocally that "what daddy or mummy" says is right. It’s wrong to bully as long as mummy says it is; and it’s right if daddy says comforting a hurting child is.

The first 5 or so years of growing children are a window of opportunity that they unquestionably accept the values and virtues modeled by parents. What happens when children receive one “morality lecture” daily in their early years? Check this out for example. Keilah hurts her finger. “Let’s help her feel better.” Your son takes his friend’s ball. “Tommy feels sad because you took his favourite ball.” or “How would you feel if Tommy took your ball?”

Initially a child believes behaviours are right or wrong because you tell him or her so, or they considers the consequences. By five years of age your child begins to internalize your values: what’s right for you becomes right for them. Your values, virtuous or not, become part of your child.

Parents listen; you are the mirror your children will reflect all through their lives, paint a good picture. There will always be a part of you popping up in them from time to time, ensure it’s the better part.