Article #4

It is all depend on what the parents' background is, what education the parents completed, how the parents value things, and what the parents went through. For examples, (1) strong parents, then their children should be strong when they grow up, (2) parents are selfish, then their children should be selfish when they grow up, (3) parents often help others, then their children should help others often when they grow up...., In other words, parents are role models for their children. What I have just said is too simple, and in fact it is not that simple. Below is why.

There is a difference between raising boys and raising girls. For example, (a) When a boy falls down, then the parents should pretend nothing is happening and let him get up on his feet by himself. (b) When the girl falls down, her parents must immediately help her to get up and say something nice to comfort her. For (a), this teaches the boy to overcome and solve all obstacles and any problems by himself when he grows up. For (b), this teaches the girl whenever she faces any problems before she gets married, she should let her dad to help her. After she gets married, she should let her husband to help her. And when she is getting old, she should let her children to help her.

Always, never buy the same toys more than one quantity. Doing it in this way can help the children to learn how to share things with each other.

Raising girls is harder than raising boys, because parents must need to pay more attention and care more and more observation on girls carefully than boys. For example, parents may worry that their girls will go to them and say "I am pregnant" before they finish college or university.

These days, materialism is everywhere. So to teach the children the values of things is very important. For examples, value of life, value of existing, value of living, value of time, value of going to school, value of friendship, value of helping others, value of marry, value of money, …, instead of keep buying luxury of products like iPhone, Gucci bags, Gucci eyeglass, high quality of clothes, toys,.…., for them.

As the children are going to higher grade classes at school. Then the parents’ lesson is decreasing for the children, and at the same time the children's teachers’ lesson is increasing for the children.

As the children are getting mature. Then both parents' and teachers' lesson will be decreasing more, and the children will be more influenced by their friends. At this point, parents must try their best to find out, know, and understand the background of their friends. And keep being their children's best friends and keep opening and talking to the children on any topics that the children would like to talk about them.

It is the parents’ responsibility to read books, and even go to take classes for learning how to raise their children to have both physically and mentally healthy.

It is also the parents’ responsibility for making their children not to form the bad habits such as, smoking, drugs, alcohols, gambling, ..., etc.

For all parents, if they can see their growing up children are responsible, aspirant, independent, good heart, kind, friendly, willing to help others, and have good character, then to the parents it is better than winning a good fortune.

My conclusion is, as good parents, they should not expect their children to become doctors, lawyers, professors, ...., etc. But good parents should do their best to encourage their children do their best, rather than giving up that easily on whatever their children are doing and will be doing.