Saturday, January 15, 2011

Children Have Their Own Opinions...and It Starts Young


Kids can reach their own opinions long before adults interject.
Tonight my son was watching a football game, which is common for him when the NFL is on T.V.
The Steelers/Ravens game was on.
As the camera panned the Pittsburgh stadium, my son paused for a moment, shook his head and said, ‘Look at them with their flags; waving them’.
I was in the hall walking by the living room. I saw the clip of video and knew what he was witnessing; it was a sea of proud Pittsburgh Steelers fans, waving their Terrible Towels.
I knew by his reference of ‘flags’ that he’d probably never noticed the towels before. I was confident that we’d never discussed them before so I was aware that this conversation was about to become an educational moment.
I strongly believe that it’s not a good idea to impose my ideas and opinions on my children until first they establish their own.
If they ask me my feelings or views later, I will tell them, but until then I make it a point to avoid sharing my own views before they reach their own.
So with no emotion and from another room, I made my reply a statement; strictly informational and unbiased.
I told him ‘the ‘flags’ were Terrible Towels and that Pittsburgh fans swing above their heads to cheer the Steelers’.
I was surprised, that even as the sweet, kind and gentle little boy he is, who uses good manners every day and never insults anyone, could display such a distaste for what he was seeing.
I never had to say a word about how I felt about the Terrible Towel. He had his own thoughts. He’d formed his own opinion, and it was quite similar to a true Browns fan.
He went as far as to make a silly laugh and give an eye roll. I didn’t teach him that, I swear!  
I simply educated him on the truth. He was the one who came to his own conclusion.
I might not have been the one who influenced him in his opinion of the Terrible Towel tradition,
but…......I am afraid I will need to have a talk with his older sisters. I have a feeling they may have had a hand in teaching him the eye roll….

Truly,
Amber


  



Ten Lies You’ll Hear Before Pursuing Your Dream

While enjoying this chilly, snowy Saturday indoors, I decided to check out some new
websites.

One was Digg.com, which I did not find to be the right fit for me at this time, and
another was StumbleUpon.com.

Check it out! It's both fun and informative.

Although I am sure, like anything else on the internet, it can have it's addictive qualities.

It's kind of like a slot machine. Press Stumble and wait to see what you get.

Smart though and worthy of your time; the more you tell it what you like
and do not like, the more it caters to you and sends you more, or less, of what you desire.

Try it out and tell me what you think.

If you use StumbleUpon.com already, tell me your favorite features.

See my favorite Stumble for the day:

Ten Lies You’ll Hear Before Pursuing Your Dream
is an article that was found for me today.

Some of the photos came a close second, and the mini video Post-it Note Love deserves and honorable mention.

Enjoy stumbling;)

Truly,

Amber