Some years ago I took my 12 y/o grandson to the Sounds Baseball game. The evening weather was perfect, the greasy, ball park food tasted great, and we had a fun, fun time. The stadium was far from full; it was, after all, Tuesday night. In the 6th inning Grandson looked around the empty stadium and commented, “We could have just bought cheap seats and moved down here.”
“Could we?” I questioned.
“No, Grandpar,” he answered. “That would have been unethical.” (Kind of a big word for a ten year old, I thought, but didn’t comment.)
“”You’re right,” I replied as tears formed in my eyes. “That would have been kinda like stealing.”
Then he hit me with the best stinger of the night. “It’s always best to do the right thing, Grandpar.”
He showed why we should listen to our kids; they will re-teach us the lessons they have learned. That, as you probably know, is the theme of my book “Messeners in Denim”. (I never miss a chance to drop a cheap plug; it will be in the stores August 31.)
I can forget worrying about this grandkid; he has developed a good conscience. And he learned it from his dad. Now, I know there is more to life than not cheating on ball park tickets, but from many little things big things grow and as this boy grows his conscience will continue to develop and broaden its influence unless its growth is thwarted by someone he loves.
And he will be happy. Aristotle defines happiness as living a life of virtue. Virtue is learned from your parents; so if you want to be happy, be filled with virtue and choose happy, virtuous parent.
P.S. He celebrated his eighteenth birthday earlier this year, and is ready for college and an admirable kid in every sense of the word. He is a joy to know and love.