Keep Up The Good Work

Encourage One Another

Published on June 5, 2008 By KFC Kickin For Christ In Blogging

Have you ever seen those bumper stickers that say:

"My Chld is an Honor Student at (insert name of school)?"

Perhaps you've had one on your car? Is that bragging or boasting? Or is that just giving a child a pat on the back for a job well done? Is there anything wrong with that?

There are too many kids out there messing around, getting in trouble and not being very good examples out there. They seem to get plenty of attention don't they? To put it bluntly they are menaces and a detriment to society and we hear about this all over the news especially lately it seems. They will continue to be such until some sort of intervention puts a stop to this. I don't blame the kids so much as I do blame their managers....their parents or guardians especially in the very young years.

I think it's fine and dandy to reward anyone for a job well done and encourage them to keep it up. It seems the last few years we've gotten away from all that not wanting to make anyone feel bad who didn't do quite as well. It seems like sometimes we are rewarding bad behavior by keeping quiet about the good ones.

The news around here is getting increasingly disturbing. Recently three fourth graders were charged with felonies. Felonies! Can you imagine? Third and fourth graders? What did they do? They are being charged with breaking and entering and burglary one having a knife.

Then there was the incidence where three third graders were arrested for the murder plot against their teacher. Huh? We loved our teacher in the third grade. I remember her. Mrs. Baker. Anyhow these kids had rope, duct tape and all the materials and ideas to go with their foiled plan. Busted! Two boys and a girl.

Where are their parents?

So I thought I'd post a brag blog. Ya. Why not? Not about me but but others close to me. Do you have someone in your life you're proud of? Maybe you haven't dared to express it because the Politically Correct Police might haul you away or worse call you a braggart? How can that be when you extoll the virtues of another person? I'm not asking your to brag on yourself but on someone close to you that brings a smile to your face instead of shame.

I am very proud of my three boys for the men they have turned out to be. I prayed for a long time over them, years even that they would turn out to be strong men of God and a credit to the world around them. I pray they continue to be an influence rather than to be influenced by society as our world gets increasingly darker and more and more dangerous. We are in need of good men who are leaders of integrity and honor.

I'm proud of my husband who was and is a great example for his boys. His hard work and dedication to his God, home and workplace as well as strangers has been a great influence on three little boys who watched his every move. Everywhere he goes he's known and recognized for his discipline and integrity. Even his new employers recently pulled him aside telling him so rewarding him with a 15% raise and a hefty bonus check, after only one season of work. They want to keep him hoping he'll stick around a while.

Congratulations Bobby on your discipline and work ethic you have demonstrated both in your work and schooling that has brought you thus far. I can't wait to see the outcome of all this hard work and dedication to your field. Perhaps some day you will find a cure for the condition you are currently working on. Keep amazing them!!

Congrats to Brian who has gone up in rank and is now a 1st Lt in the Air Force. I'm sure Amanda and Ethan are very proud of you as well. Keep up the good work. Ha! One step closer to General. Of course I'm very proud of my d-i-l and the very attentive wife and mom she has become to both her husband and my grandson. Ethan and the next little one are very lucky to have such a great mom. Keep up the good work.

I'm proud of my youngest son and his new wife for their two latest milestones in their lives, graduation and marriage and for both sticking by their principles no matter the razzing. I'm also not only proud that David got a great job as an Assistant Sport's Editor but more for the fact he was taken aside and told how much they appreciated his work ethic. He was praised and told he was one of the best workers they'd seen in quite a long time. What a great compliment for a job well done. Keep up the good work.

Congrats to Rosie on your acceptance to Harvard! You are one smart cookie! But I knew that a long time ago. But who would have thought you'd end up at Harvard for Religion instead of Science? Pretty cool!

Sometimes it's hard to tell someone how proud you are of them because you may fear it will go to their head and they won't fit thru the door. Ha! I've probably been light on the praises of my kids over the years for just that reason but it's about time we step out of that and say "I'm proud of you. Keep up the good work"

Comments

CharlesCS

on Jun 06, 2008

Well, I wish I had great things to say about my family but the mother of my children is not someone who, at the moment, would get the parent equivalent of "My Chld is an Honor Student at (insert name of school)". Then again, neither am I, am ashamed to admit.

My 9 year old barely made it past 4th grade. Just a few days ago we had signed papers agreeing to allow him to repeat the 4th grade when news came he had done good enough in a test to pass. Not great, good enough. I am not too happy with these results but I take a lot of blame for this as well. I just did not try hard enough to help him, neither did his mother.

My 5 year old is about to graduate from Pre-K, but his behavior leaves very little to be desired. I have tried tough love, punishment, letting him get away with it, but to no avail. I can not get him to behave at all.

Now, my children's mom, I think she is a lost cause. I don't think anything short of a terrible accident leading to one of our deaths (God forbid) could knock some sense into this woman. She simply refuses to become an adult and take responsibilities.

My 9 year old, I will make a harder effort to help him in school and get those grades up. I will be implementing new rules and ideas that will help him become more responsible and improve his education.

My 5 year old, I had a talk with a councilor that was there and she showed me the problem by simply letting him play his way. It would seem my son is seeking a specific kind of attention and I was unable to figure it out till the councilor showed me. He wants me to be proud if him but showing me what he knows and what he can do and I was too blind to see it.

Myself, I don't think I even deserve to celebrate fathers day. I let stress get to me and turn me into a grouch, who was only interested in entertaining himself during his out of the office time and did not pay more attention to his family.

I am sorry I did not put a bragging post. But felt I needed to let it out and I dont have many people I can express my mind too so what better place than a blog.

SanChonino

on Jun 06, 2008

his behavior leaves very little to be desired.

Do you remember when BlueDev gave the 'couldn't care less' lesson? Think of this as version 2.

'Little to be desired' would mean that there is little more you could want out of him - meaning, his behavior is almost perfect already, exemplary almost ad nauseum.

'A lot to be desired' would mean that he misbehaves all the time and there are a lot of things you'd like him to do differently.

Plegh.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Jun 06, 2008

So sorry to hear this Charles but unless you and your children's mom get on the same page being united about these children they will suffer and you will continue to feel the guilt. Before you know it, they'll be out of the house and gone and you'll be looking back with many regrets. If you have a nine year old, you have about three years to really get a good foundation in before it really starts hitting the fan. The first 12 years is very important foundation wise. Without it everything will crumble later when the pressure mounts.

You must come up with a plan together that will be best for these kids. Of course taking interest in them is first and foremost. Go to their games/activities and open houses at school. That's a huge step in the right direction. Also very important is to come up with traditions they look forward to. Kids love that sort of thing. Inquire about HW and make sure they do it. Give them something to give them incentive for wanting to do well either in school or at home.

Parenting is not easy but you will reap great benefits down the road if you put the time and effort into them now. When you plant anything it takes time to come to fruition so don't get impatient. Just take one day at a time investing in your children's lives now.

I am sorry I did not put a bragging post. But felt I needed to let it out and I dont have many people I can express my mind too so what better place than a blog

That's ok. Children have a way of forgiving and forgetting if they see their parent's make an honest effort for them. What's behind is behind. Learn and move, Certainly your children have some good qualities already you can "brag" on. Try to dwell on the good and help them work out the problem areas. Encouraging them now will help them to continue to make you proud of their accomplishments.

Make some changes this month and get back to me and tell me the positive changes you've seen in your kids. I'd love to hear it!

CharlesCS

on Jun 06, 2008

Certainly your children have some good qualities already you can "brag" on.

Well, one thing I can say, they truly are smart kids. They are quick learners, but only when they feel like it. Of course, as I said, in part that's my fault for not giving them enough motivation.

Make some changes this month and get back to me and tell me the positive changes you've seen in your kids. I'd love to hear it!

That's my plan, though I tend to feel very embarrassed be my actions I will blog on my work in progress with my kids. As for my children's mom, I'm close to giving up after 10 years of trying. I'm hoping sooner or later reality will finally kick in and she might grow up for once.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Jun 09, 2008

They are quick learners, but only when they feel like it. Of course, as I said, in part that's my fault for not giving them enough motivation.

well good. It's a start that you can recognize the problem so that is step one. Now you know what you need to do. You can be and should be your child's best advocate. Everyone needs one. Give them something to work for. Praise them and show them you care.

I tend to feel very embarrassed be my actions I will blog on my work in progress with my kids. As for my children's mom, I'm close to giving up after 10 years of trying. I'm hoping sooner or later reality will finally kick in and she might grow up for once.

I'd love to see it. If I miss it, tag me somewhere along the way and point me in the direction of your blog. Maybe if you take some initative the mom will as well. Everyone needs some encouragment and direction. You can be the leader of this endeavor and hopefully she'll follow suit.

CharlesCS

on Jun 09, 2008

Maybe if you take some initative the mom will as well. Everyone needs some encouragment and direction. You can be the leader of this endeavor and hopefully she'll follow suit.

That's the irony. I have always taken the lead, the problem is as the years went by my job as a father got bigger and bigger when I began to take he work since she wasnt doing it and I noticed I was getting stuck with it. I eventually got to the point where I would stop doing it, but it would not get done and when I complained she would throw the "why didnt I do it if I saw it" argument. My wife is one of those kind of women who doesnt like to be told what to do, especially by a man and doesnt like to have things she dont do pointed out to her, especially by a man.

This weekend she took some initiative towards picking up the room. It inspired me to do some of the work I had been procrastinating for a while. She claims she is trying to change, and I do see it. But she is focusing on all the wrong things first and, again, If I point it out, it becomes an argument fest where in the end she cries and makes me feel like a monster who doesnt care. She gives a whole new meaning to a difficult woman.

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