My friend, the photographer Gary, He came to the restaurant for a seafood chaufita with creams, rocotito and, to drink, a fresh lemonade. “María, you and I have always talked about the enormous importance of parents educating our children well. It is not just about giving money for their food and clothing. Being a father is much more, because you have to give the children attention, love, respect and discipline.
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The case of the bloody murder of five members of a family in a car in San Miguel, at the hands of hitmen, has shocked the country. The worst thing is that three of the captured killers are quite young. One of them is only 18 years old! A boy who has very recently left the age of childhood. How can such young people commit such a monstrosity, even without caring that there were two minors.
I believe that the environment in which people develop greatly influences their development. Children left in moral neglect, even if they live with their parents, can easily be captured by criminals and used to perpetrate the worst crimes. The gunmen who unleashed the bloodbath in San Miguel killed without hesitation and, what’s more, they did it viciously.
Men and women who have children cannot let them grow up at their own free will. Control and discipline must be exercised with them, but in a fair and respectful manner, without insulting, humiliating or hitting them. Showing them love. Some tips to make our children be good people:
- Stimulates their self-esteem: The words and actions of parents have an impact on the development of their children’s self-esteem. Praise for achievements, however small, will make children proud. You have to let them do things so that they feel capable and strong. Putting down comments or negative comparisons to other children will make them feel worthless.
- Recognize their good deeds: Think if you criticize them more times than you congratulate them. How would you feel if your boss treated you like this all the time? Recognize the positive they do: ‘You made the bed without me asking, that’s great!’ Comments like this are much better at encouraging good behavior than constant reprimands.
- Set limits. And also be consistent with discipline. This is intended to help children choose acceptable behaviors and learn self-control. Set rules, such as not watching TV until homework is done. First warn and then punish: It could be not letting him watch TV.
- Teach by example. Young children learn how to act by watching their parents. The smaller, the more they imitate them. Before you react aggressively in front of your child, think: Is this how I want my child to behave when he gets upset? Such great advice from Gary. I’m leaving, take care.
