What do you want out of life? What do you want to be when you grow up? What are you going to do when you graduate from high school?
I am sure you have been asked these questions or asked them, but are they the right questions? Let’s give a little thought to them today.
One of my high school teachers had great insight as she leads our class in a discussion about real-life after asking some of these questions to our senior class. She told us, “Life is not a fairy tale where everything turns out positively with a fairy godmother granting wishes.” We were in her home economics class discussing family life. She was a great teacher who really knew how to grab our attention. Many of us were in serious relationships and already talking about marriage at the age of 17, myself included.
Mrs. Beth Moore decided a mock wedding and designing household budgets would be great ways to learn. We even had additions to our families to care for as we went along. It was a great learning experience! Budgets, unexpected bills, loss of jobs, arguments and great discussions.
I carried with me those lessons as I did marry my high school sweetheart at the age of 19, and our life journey has been full of opportunities! The struggles, success, and sickness reminded us of what we wanted. We are blessed with three grandchildren and a life that continues to provide opportunities.
Positive experiences are easy to handle. It is when negative effects come crashing in unexpectedly you feel overwhelmed and want to give up. The struggles we have experienced together and the individual ones brought strength in our abilities to overcome. However, it also gave gratitude for the struggles in order to appreciate what we have today.
Are we able to provide Mrs. Moore’s lessons today for our students? Can we change our questions to include, “What are you willing to work for?” “What struggles will you face? “Can you work through struggles to achieve your goals?”
My husband joined the United States Navy. I had never been away from home. We left after our wedding with everything we owned in a mustang car with a storage topper. He made $800.00 a month. We had a car payment, rent and utility, and groceries to pay for each month. Not a lot to work with each month. We made it work.
We are going through difficult times today as a nation. The challenges we face are examples for our children on how to make it through traumatic events. Children are facing severe issues as well, and we must not forget them. They lack socialization, regular routines, and the many fears they have all need to be addressed.
All hands on deck to address the issues for our children. They need to be back in school, involved in activities, and back on track for their goals. They have struggled and will continue to work. The struggle they are experiencing now has gone on too long; it will break many of them if we do not intervene soon.
Children need guidance in life lessons to navigate through the hurdles. Make thoughtful action plans to address the needs of all children, staff, families, and communities. It will take all of us working together to create an environment for healing and growth.
Make a plan today to change the lives of tomorrow who will shape the future! Ask different questions, listen more than telling, and support through thought fullness.