Pray for us...we are parents of TEENAGERS! Before we had kids, our life use to seem so much simpler. Today I took my oldest son to get his learner’s permit. Somehow, he made it this long to be old enough to be eligible to get it. I don’t know how they grow older, and we just stay the same age (although I have a feeling, I’m going to age much quicker now)! On the way over to the Motor Vehicle Department, I began to reflect on how lucky I am to have such great kids. I wondered, back a few years ago, how in the world was I going to instill in them all the right and proper values. Do they get them from watching us, or watching TV? Now, there’s a scary thought! Do they get them from our conversations with them? (I remember Tim Allen on “Home Improvement” trying to “talk” with his son about life and the “birds and bees”...”Huhhhhhhh...o,o,o,o,oh”) Or do they get it in tidbits? Here and there, watching, talking, spending quiet times with each other, observing our reactions to situations as they occur. How in the world to you get prepared to raise children? Somehow, I misplaced the instruction booklet(s)...(I’m sure there was more than one). It must have been in that little knit hat the hospital put on them when they were born. I knew I should have grabbed it! I have this picture of my youngest brother holding Charlie in his arms up at a favorite lake retreat where our family likes to vacation. Its that picture I keep in my memory of my oldest son (he was 5 or 6 at the time). Somehow, when I look at him now, I wonder, “How in the world did he ever fit in my lap?” And then to watch my 13 year old daughter (excuse me, Emily, I stand corrected...ALMOST 14! Jeesh!) grow into a young lady. It all somehow gives me goosebumps to think that someday she may walk down the aisle, ready to join a young man in marriage for the rest of her life. They say, “A son is your son until he gets a wife but a daughter is your daughter for the rest of your life.” Ahhh, the dreams of a dad. As I write this, I wonder what happened to the thoughts of the convent for my daughter? Hmmm. Protective dad = may have to consider the life of a nun again for her! As we all get busy with life, with our businesses and careers, it seems we don’t have enough time to even think about what to tell our kids, how to grow up, how to treat other people or not to mention how to develop leadership skills. It wasn’t until Charlie reached 1st grade that we decided to let him participate in Cub Scouts (Tiger Cubs, actually). The program is set up to encourage parent participation and involvement, signing off each accomplishment. Just to watch him grow through Cub Scouts, receiving his Arrow of Light award (the highest award given by the Cub Scouts) was so gratifying. We were so encouraged by his participation in Cub Scouts, that we were excited for him to go on to the Boy Scouts. Imagine a parent’s pride in watching a boy grow into a young man, taking responsibilities, and moving through the ranks (he’ll be a second generation Eagle Scout). You can’t help but be amazed at what they do during campouts. And to experience the responsibilities they take for their younger scouts is truly spectacular (we can’t even get him to clean the dishes at home or make his bed unless we bug him!). And then there’s 4H for Emily. Just to watch her try so hard to learn new things by working on her project book, is awesome. Its not just about farming and horses, and sheep. Its about giving kids, young adults, the chance to learn new crafts, new hobbies, new experiences. When she won the blue ribbon for the quilt she made with my wife, the look of pride on her face was worth all the trips back and forth to the meetings, the crying over not feeling like she fits in, and the lack of self confidence a young girl that age seems to have. To watch her confidence grow as she stands up in front of the club and do a “demonstration”, telling them about her rabbit, or her gerbils or her dog and her quilt, makes a father proud, knowing she is gaining experiences that will equip her for the future.. All that to come to my main point. There is an oath and a set of laws the Boy Scouts abide by, and a pledge made by 4H-ers that are ideals we all could live by. What would this world be like if everyone promised to do their best, to God and their country, to obey a set of laws (the Scout law), to help other people at all times, to keep themselves physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. The Scout law says that a Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. I could expound on those virtues, but I will leave that for another time. And suppose we all would pledge our Head to clear thinking, our Heart to greater loyalty, our Hands to larger service, our Health to better living for our...community, our country and our world (the 4-H’s). When they were young (4&2), I use to pray that they would learn to be compassionate people. And I wondered, “How in the world can I teach them THAT?” Shortly thereafter, our next son was born. Danny has Down Syndrome. And I wish I could report to you about how wonderfully he gets treated at home. Have you ever seen sibling rivalry in action? Its enough to give you gray hairs, lose your hair, give you laryngitis, see crooked, and do some more spackling around the house because you need to fix the walls. But when you see how the older two interact with other people with disabilities, you know your prayers have been answered. Reality Check: And then...they become teenagers. I heard a definition of teenage years being that time when the good Lord removes the brain at age 12-13 and puts it back in at age 21-22. My mother use to get after me when I leaned back on a chair. And I find I do the same thing, “Don’t lean back on that chair, you’ll break it!” Come to think of it, have you ever seen a broken chair from leaning back on it? Frankly, I don’t know who needs prayers more: them or us! Finally, I was at the grocery store check-out the other day. In front of me was a senior citizen, possibly in his late 80’s. He was complaining to the cashier about today’s youth, and what a wicked world we live in. The cashier commented that she hoped her daughter would never have kids because of today’s society. I’m normally quiet when I hear other people’s comments, but I couldn’t help myself on this one. “That’s one thing that really gets my blood boiling. I’m proud to have my kids. After all, who is going to solve the problems for the generations to come?!” Needless to say, the old man and the cashier looked at me rather dumbfounded. Hey, with programs like the Scouts and 4H around, you can’t help but believe in our youth. And you can’t help but stand up for them also. -- Ken Anderson Anderson's Famous Painting Co. www.famouspainters.com --

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