Educating By Example

Every day, we all make decisions that will have an effect upon our lives, whether that be a positive or a negative. How we handle ourselves is crucial. It is crucial because how we react to a situation will be a guiding light for those around us. The outcome will also affect those involved and those who are indirectly involved.

I have been in many situations in which I have had to hold my tongue because the negatives far outweighed the positives, as a whole. Little did I realize that these situations were being examined and remembered, forever etched into the minds of many.

As a homeschooling parent and a parent in general, I realize the importance of educating by example. In order to receive positive behaviors then I must in turn show positive behaviors. If I would like to receive negative behaviors then all I have to do is model those negatives. It goes back to the old cliché of “Monkey see, Monkey do” and if those little monkeys see, they will surely do as they see.

Through the years, I have modeled some great behavior but I have also modeled some less than great behaviors, depending upon the situation. I am not in the least bit perfect and have always tried to keep it real with those around me, including my children. Honesty is always the best policy.

Recently, I took my teenage son to camp, where he would remain for a whole week without his family. As children grow they must be given room to grow, experience and learn all on their own, without the prying eyes of mom.

As mothers, we must trust that we have given a good standard set of basic tools for living outside in the real world. It is a big and scary place only if you let it be.

I am sure he encountered many different situations that week that were both positive and negative. However, one situation in particular stands out in my mind.

We stood in line for check-in, which was a rather lengthy line so we could wait for further instructions. Some fellow camp mates that my son knew had arrived a bit earlier than we had. It wasn’t long before one of those campers came along and asked if my son would like to cut up to the front of the line with them. My son declined the offer and I could not have been happier. He assessed the situation, took a moment to think it through and then declined because he knew that was not the correct thing to do.

A little while later the same camper came along and asked the same of my son. My son declined again and held his position on the situation. Imagine if he was holding this firm on cutting in line, then I had hope he would stand even firmer on the bigger issues that would surely find him.

Our family had educated him over and over by example. Mind you some of these examples have been less than desirable but still none the less educational. He had learned from negatives and positives through different experiences and was now teetering into finding his own balance.

I can only hope and pray that he remains steadfast in what he believes is right. I can only hope and pray that my younger children glean some education from their older brother, as well as the family as a unit.

Educating by example seems so insignificant, yet the rippling effects can last lifetimes.

Amanda can be found over at All American Family living out her version of the American dream, alongside her family.

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