Why you won't like Angus cows in your homes
Angus beef is soooo delectable! Those who have partaken of it can attest to that. Many people say that unlike ordinary beef, the meat of Angus cattle is different. It is so soft that it melts in your mouth! It might be interesting to know how these special breed of cows produce such tender flesh. My good friend Edwin Lopez of EWTN told me once that Angus cows are caged in very small stalls that they could hardly move. And precisely because they could not use much their muscles, their meat remains soft and tender, unlike our native cows that freely move around in barns and graze in farm lands.
Why am I taking up all these matters of Angus cows? Well actually, I am writing about bringing up children with performance character. The thing is, without realizing it, many parents, especially those in the middle and upper strata of our society are raising their kids as if these children are Angus cows! These kids do not have much responsibilities at home. So like Angus cattle, they do not "move" much. No task is given to them and everything -- cleaning the house, watering the plants, setting the table, washing the dishes, and even putting order in the children's closet for clothes! -- is entrusted to the house maids. For fear of seeing their children suffer some discomfort, they are sheltered from exerting much effort. Instead, they are provided with every comfort in life. They have the latest cell phones, MP3 players, video game machines, and other high tech leisure gadgets. You name it, they have it!
And what's the result? Do these children end up as pleasant as an Angus beef? That's the huge difference. While Angus cattle become scrumptious when not made to move around, children do not become any better when they are encouraged to wrap themselves in too much comfort. In fact, they become selfish and think that everybody has the duty to entertain them. They also fail to develop their will power which shapes up only in a climate of demanding work. And because their minds and bodies are accustomed to too much comfort, tasks that demand effort become very difficult for them. This is the reason why many kids of this sort do not often excel in academic work, even though their parents and teachers assess them as bright individuals. The parents of these children unfortunately fail to see that the key to a fruitful academic work is not in possessing a brilliant mind, but in the steadfast effort of the child to do his school work well. And children will have a greater chance of taking their school work seriously if they are not made to live in an atmosphere of extravagance and luxury.
To all the parents, please allow me to give you a few more suggestions. Firstly, often talk to your children about the need to work well. Demand that they give their best in academic work. They need not get A's, but whenever they get a C for a grade, parents should make sure that that's a fruit of their child's best effort. Likewise, If you know any good worker, talk to your child about him and point out to your children how his work ethics give him so much professional success.
Secondly, bring your child to your work place once in a while. I was reminded of how one time, a very young girl, when asked what her father does, said, "He jogs." And when asked what her mother does, replied, "She shops." Obviously, the little girl never saw her parents engaged in serious professional work. It is good that at a young age, children form an idea of how their parents work hard to earn a living. While telling them that Daddy goes to office to work may help, it is an entirely different thing when kids see their parents interacting with their colleagues and literally sweating it out for the family.
Lastly, give them some chores. It is very interesting to note that in the school where I work, the kids who work regularly on a number of chores at their homes often do well academically. And not only them, but their parents also have some house tasks. When children are given obligations at home, they come to realize that everybody has the duty to serve the others. They also develop the virtue of responsibility which they carry with them when they approach other tasks such as school work. Evidently, the chores we give to our children will vary according to their age. Very small children can start by putting back the toys to the place where they got them. Older children such as those in grade 3 and up, can already do more such as setting the table and washing dishes. Some can even start learning how to cook.
Our national hero Jose Rizal once said that the young people are the hope of our fatherland. How true! But they can only be the true hope of our country if they learn how to be productive workers. And the best time to start teaching them the value of work is while they are still children.