Daily Meditation: Tuesday, September 9, 2003

More often than not, it is parents who encourage their …

09/09/2003

More often than not, it is parents who encourage their children's bad habits, in an attempt to prevent them from suffering. The moment they see their children struggling a bit to do what is demanded of them, they become upset and intervene to spare them the effort. In reality, children are so resourceful, so resilient that they forget these little hardships very quickly; what will stay with them is the significance of effort, which will help to form their character. This is what parents must be concerned about. On the contrary, if they are always watching their children, always anxious about them, saying: 'Oh, the poor thing! He mustn't be forced, he shouldn't have to suffer', in order to protect them from a few minor difficulties, they will make them lazy, weak, egotistical, and capricious. If they truly love their children, if they care about their successful evolution, they must let them struggle a little - I repeat: a little - and suffer with them if necessary, knowing that true education means helping children to understand the importance of effort.