The Work Ethic Does Not Just Happen

I have written about this topic before,(One of the best gifts from parents) posted on Feb. 14, 2009. I discuss it differently in this entry. It appears that some parents expect their children to grow up to be responsible, hard-working people.They expect their children to grow up to be moral, persons of integrity. All of this is possible. It requires that parents teach their children to be that way. How can a person grow up to be responsible if he/she was never taught to be responsible? The work ethic does not just happen. It must be taught. Children need to be taught to brush their teeth, and other health habits. They need to be taught the importance of helping out around the house. They need to be taught to do chores such as yard work, taking out the trash, keeping their rooms clean, washing the car, washing their clothes, doing their part. Doing their homework. They need to be taught to get up on time for school. They need to be taught that they are part of a team. The family is a team. It is a cooperative team. Most parents realize that their children do not have the maturity, knowledge, or time to take on major responsibilities in a household. Nevertheless, children must be taught. They must be taught to do their part. Most children do not do the major part of the tasks required to run a home. They cannot. They are children. Nevertheless, they can be taught to do their part. They must also be taught morality. The teaching of values and morality is not the major responsibility of the public school. It supports values and morality, but sometimes what is taught at school and what is taught at home regarding these matters are at odds with each other. When there is a clash, whose values will prevail? Most likely, the values that have been adequately taught. Parents have a major responsibility. The work ethic does not just happen. It must be taught in order for it to happen.