I was raised in a simpler time. Things didn’t move as fast as they do today. I think the old way may have been better.
My first teachers were my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and my parent’s friends. They provided lessons no matter their intention. As children, we tend to follow the lead of significant adults, those we interact with on a regular basis. For me, many of those lessons took place at our dinner table and family gatherings. Most involved a meal, or ice cream and cake, at somebody’s something. People actually spoke to one another.
When I was a child my dad often worked past dinner time, so we ate without him. Mom always had a plate for him when he got home, and she sat with him as he ate while sharing the news of the day. When he did get home in time for dinner, and always on the week-end, we ate as a family. During our meals I did a lot of listening. My parents spoke of current events, made plans for the week-end, and discussed which relative was about to celebrate what.
I learned a lot from the adults in my life. They taught me how to cook, sew, care for people more than things, save, build, be open to new ideas, repair, mentor, the difference between right and wrong, how to keep time with the music, grow, play, show affection, not to gamble with more than you can afford to lose, read, cipher and write, explore, which tools to use for what project, have patience, listen more than you speak, and the list goes on.
The most important lesson was “never stop learning”. Listen to others, consider new ideas, and ultimately, decide which path to follow. Make a difference. Take risks. Making mistakes is a part of growing. The trick is trying to avoid making the same mistakes over and over.
Ruth and I have tried to pass these skills and values to David, Elizabeth and Michael. So far so good. They are good people making a difference in the lives of those around them. They’ve taken different paths, and we celebrate that too. We’ve had the opportunity to share our time, and outlook, with Brady and Eva, and are looking forward to doing the same with young Magnus when he arrives.
No matter who we are, or what we accomplish, each of us should strive to leave this world a little better than we found it.