It’s been an topic on my mind for a long time, well before I had children of my own.  The two little ones, given my wife and I, are now four and three years of age, and this question is becoming more and more clear.

It has become comon sense to me, as no doubt it has to you, that children attempt to reproduce the actions and behaviors of the role models in their environment.  It has been said by many folks that I’ve talked with, that, “sometimes kids will just be kids”.

That’s where I have a challenge – not in the statement itself, because certainly none of us are perfect, so they are expected to fall short – it’s the constant use of this phrase to excuse behavioral problems with the parents or other role models.

The perspective throughout the generations of parents I’ve spoken with, shows a very clear pattern.  Children are more disconnected, wild, unable to be controlled, and flat out unruly.  Gleaning wisdom from both Word of God, parents and grandparents in their 80s, and above, I’ve determined the source of the problem: parents, (ie the root) and their lack of Jesus Christ, obedience or ignorance.

Oh no, bible trumpery, right?  Well, in a way, sort of…

Jesus Christ, to be clear, is the Word of God made flesh:

Joh 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The Bible has been taken from the majority of public schools, though now it is everywhere on the internet (including the thousands of translations).  New ones being produced every week it seems.  How’s the situation at home?   Wat are the child’s role models? A violent, volatile couple that physically and/or verbally abuse the family?  A loving, yet firm, husband and wife that spend time with their children and teach them in the way they should go?  There is an enormous difference, right?

A child can perceive that and it will register over time… think about how fast the past  years has passed, you’ve been exposed to a lot, and chances are, children are at the peak of exposure now.  My own have made me plainly aware of my errors, bad decisions and have even been a catalyst for a decision to changes some things about my own parenting strategy and tactics.

I challenge you, the next time you hear “they are just being kids”, stop and ponder the situation – consider the facts of the environment and the kids’ role models.  I am certain you will find the challenge is not with the children, and anyone that has love flowing over can impact children for the better, by being a role model for them.

I hope this was a help to some.

Joshua Jones