Yesterday Mary and I presented the final class in our 6 session parenting course at our church. We were surprised by the good attendance and hope we were helpful to the participants.
Good news is that the attendees said they liked the course! Many also said they loved “Messengers in Denim”! But, we did more than just present “Messengers”, we tried to relate the parent lessons to the parents present. We also made it fun by taking a break in the middle of each class and playing a country music video.
For the first class we chose Rodney Atkins’, “Watching You”. This is the first lesson every parent learns. Kids are watching us. Not to be repetitious, but as I noted last week, “Don’t be concerned that your kids don’t hear everything you tell them; be concerned that they see every thing you do!”
The second session focused on doing things with your family, real things like hiking, fishing, building a model, things that allow you and your kids to communicate! We excluded things that are parallel but not together – things like movies and TV. Then we showed Trace Adkins’, “Just Fishin’ “. Fishing is a great example of something to do WITH your kids.
The third session, on the importance of religion, included Brooks and Dunn’s, “Believe”. There wasn’t a dry eye when it finished playing, but it led to some great discussion.
The fourth session was a bit tougher. It was on peer pressure and drug and alcohol use. After half an hour of back and fourth regarding peer pressure, we showed Toby Keith’s, “Red Solo Cup.” Then we discussed what to do when your kids see and enjoy this hilarious video. But, it is not so funny in the real world. The class loved the opportunity to discuss this and other examples of negative behavior, all the while learning how to take advantage of “Teachable Moments”.
Session five was even more difficult; it focused on teen sexuality. We, and teens especially, are hit in the face daily with sex sells ads, and movies and TV shows that seem to have no moral compass! Unfortunately, many of our acquaintances also seem to have no moral values related to sexual activity. What’s a person to do? We played Dierks Bentley’s, “Come a Little Closer” video! Now, I really like Dierks, but this video is too much. Most of the parents thought it was a bit too steamy. What do you say to your kids about videos, movies, and TV shows like it? You can’t just say “Don’t watch it!” or can you?
Yesterday we had a smorgasbord of topics. Work, money, good and bad habits, being mean or nice, and charity. Our plan was to end this session and the course with Dolly Parton’s, “9-5”. But for some reason we could not find it on I-tunes and as most of you can imagine this, “just past middle age” couple were not able to down load it from you-tube or other places we found it. Eventually we settled on Toby Keith’s, “Made in America.” It was, of course, a tribute to our country; with memorial day just around the corner we though it was appropriate. Patriotism is an important lesson for kids to learn. But, it was also a tribute to fathers which brought us back to the first lesson; kids respect, love, and honor their parents even when we don’t deserve it. Furthermore, they do what they see us do; they become us!
To be a good parent you must be the person you want your child to become!