It’s the most difficult job in the world: being a parent.
South San Francisco Editor and Davis Patch Editor are brand new parents and are already experiencing the immense joys as well as the inevitable challenges of raising a child.
In a society that is plugged into numerous technologies and highly saturated with blaring images from media, raising a competent, skilled child is already a daunting task.
But what about raising your child to be a hero? How does a parent instill the qualities of bravery, empathy, kindness and selflessness into this little being?
Wall Street Journalist columnist Sue Shellenbarger says the first step is for parents to behave the way they want their kids to behave - with a sense of service and sacrifice.
Parents can set an example in everyday life, by treating neighbors, friends and family members with kindness, or reading stories about empathetic characters,’ Shellenbarger writes.
She goes on to list examples of individuals who have received heroism medals and military personnel who have selflessly saved lives. A list of good books to read, she says, include “The Hundred Dresses,” “Fly Away Home,” “Thank You Mr. Falker,” and “How Do I Stand in Your Shoes?”
Patch readers, how do you teach your children generosity and service? Let us know in the comments.
Personality and value system plays with the potential hero event if it should present itself. One might look the other way to one who might do whatever turns out to be a hero. Another point is 'what is a hero' ? Several hero's of mine are not known to be hero's. They are mine because they are my surrogate fathers who made me what I am today. A hero does not have to save lives in the news media sense, but saving/helping or making a difference If you teach your child to go around looking to become a hero (I've come across a few), then they might become one or become a victim themselves to then look foolish Just look to have a good line of communication throughout their lives. Instill a value system/metrics of your own or want him/her to have. Also, teach by example both in the home and out there. DO NOT depend on the school system to raise your child. Their job is only to teach and fine tune on 'specific' topics. Parenting is more than providing a roof, food and company. One key component to my parenting and my own day to day: "....know you will have regrets...manage your regrets NOW whenever a decision is made..." Shallow, superficial, self-centered, narcissistic folks do NOT understand or care about that point of view