I’m Back

Hi, remember me?

Well, I’m back. I took a little break from blogging, but I’m ready to return. I miss writing. A lot has happened since I last posted. Babito is doing great and is becoming a little boy. I quit using tobacco, cold turkey, after many years. I feel great about that, but I have gained a belly from it. My wife says it’s a good trade.

My plan is to go back to writing about the one thing this blog was originally created to do – chronicle the life of my son. I plan on providing a weekly update on what’s going on in our lives, sprinkled with some humor, opinion, and fun. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.

Quote of the Day – 9/24/09

The successful person has the habit of doing things failures don’t like to do. They don’t like doing them either necessarily, but their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose. ~ Albert E. N. Gray

Posted via web from The Daily Pearl

The Thirteen Virtues of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin, one of our founding fathers, was an amazing man.  His
influence on the early history of the United States was so great that he
was known as “the only President of the United States who was never
President of the United States.”

He played many roles in his life, including politician, scientist,
inventor, diplomat, and statesman.  He’s well-known for his many
inventions, including bifocals, the lightning rod, the odometer, and the
Franklin stove, but one of the greatest legacies he left behind was his
Thirteen Virtues.

Franklin developed his thirteen virtues to help cultivate his character.
He developed them at the age of 20.  In his famous autobiography, he
devoted more pages to these virtues than to any other single point.  He
believed that the attempt at living up to these virtues made him a better
man and greatly contributed to his success and happiness.  His wish was
“that some of my descendants may follow the example and reap the benefit.”
Here’s your chance.

The Thirteen Virtues of Benjamin Franklin

  TEMPERANCE:  Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
  SILENCE:  Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid
  trifling conversation.
  ORDER:  Let all your things have their places; let each part of your
  business have its time.
  RESOLUTION:  Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail
  what you resolve.
  FRUGALITY:  Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e.,
  waste nothing.
  INDUSTRY:  Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off
  all unnecessary actions.
  SINCERITY:  Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if
  you speak, speak accordingly.
  JUSTICE:  Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that
  are your duty.
  MODERATION:  Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you
  think they deserve.
  CLEANLINESS: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
  TRANQUILLITY:  Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or
  unavoidable.
  CHASTITY:  Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to
  dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or
  reputation.
  HUMILITY:  Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Franklin didn’t try to work on all thirteen virtues at once. He worked on
one and only one each week “leaving all others to their ordinary chance”.

Posted via email from The Daily Pearl

Lies!

The Babito has not reached that phase where children begin to lie about things (unless you count his responses to being asked if he’s tired or has to go pee pee). In fact, he’s brutally honest when you ask him questions.

For example, if he breaks something or makes a mess he’ll freely admit to doing it.

I truly think children are born innocent and honest, it’s their environment that turns them into little liars. I think it’s actually a sign of intelligence for a child to learn to lie, especially as a sign of self-protection.

Of course, I don’t advocate children to lie, but they really don’t know any better. It is our job as parents to teach them it’s wrong.

How do we do that?

First, we have to set a good example for our kids by always being honest with them. Your children, especially young children, truly emulate what you do and how you act.

Secondly, you have to encourage truthful responses. You have to control your temper when your child does something wrong and admits to it. Eventually a child will learn to lie (if he’s smart) if you respond in anger. Take that time to thank them for telling the truth and calmly explain why their action or behavior was wrong. I know – it’s harder to do than it sounds.

It’s easier when they’re toddlers when they are in a more controlled environment. No doubt they will be exposed to many little fibbers when they start school. That’s when you’ll have to hope that your positive reinforcements about being honest and truthful will win out.

Have you had issues with your kids lying? How did you deal with it?

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