Teach Your Children Well

Do you remember when you were little and you believed just about everything you were told? I do! I remember as a college student, walking down the hill and LEAPING over any railroad tracks that I had to cross. Why? Because my brothers told me (when I was little) that the tracks were giant magnets. That’s how the trains were able to stay on them. But if you were stepping on the track when the Station Master threw the switch because a train was coming, you’d stick there and get run over!! For years and years this wonderful information had remained buried in my brain, to surface when I “needed” it. I bet you remember why you’re suppose to eat your carrots or why you’re not suppose to drink coffee when you’re young. So are you tall with great eyesight?

Most of the things that have been ingrained in our minds were planted there through love and concern (unless you heard it from my brothers). That doesn’t necessarily make them true. Sometimes we were “taught” things out of fear of the unknown. Through the years our perception of the world changes.  Think about the way you used to think about: divorce; mental illness, alcoholism, and “grown ups”. Has your understanding of these words changed throughout the years? When I was growing up, one of our neighbors had some odd behaviors. One day he was very kind and personable, the next he was yelling at us kids to play without making any sound. He was SCARY and CRAZY! Or maybe he had a mental illness. PERCEPTIONS!

OLD is another word whose meaning has transformed many times in my lifetime. When my father died, I knew he was too young to die, but he was old, he was my Dad. He was 48 years old! Wow! Did I really think he was old? I know 80 and 90 year olds that put me to shame when I see their energy. So how do we define the word OLD? Is it just that old woman who drives about 10 miles per hour slower than the posted speed limit? Is it just that old man shuffling across the parking lot with his cane? Or maybe that voice on the other end of the phone that asks the same questions every time you have to take your turn and talk to her. More importantly than how you define OLD, how are your teaching your children to define the word. Remember, they most likely will be the ones assisting YOU when you are OLD. Teach them to look past the gray hair and wrinkles. Teach them to look past the trembling voice and shaking hands. Teach them to hear the stories of long ago youths and marvel at the experiences this person is sharing. Brings to mind the title of a song by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young—Teach Your Children Well.

Jane Murakami

Golden Years Planning

(507) 403-3875

Www.goldenyearsinfo.com