It's Thursday and I have been struggling with the post that was suppose to be posted two days ago. I've had several ideas and some unsuccessful starts but nothing felt right.
As I sat down once again this morning, an item in our inbox really "spoke" to me. I feel impressed to share it with you.
Daily, on almost all media fronts we are bombarded with inaccurate and inappropriate images, programs, and advertising---skewing how men and women interact---making the abhorrent appear commonplace and acceptable.
What follows is the first five paragraphs from an article in a Salt Lake City, Utah newspaper --- the Deseret News. I hope you will make the time to go to the link at the bottom of the post to read the entire article.
Teaching children by how you treat your spouse by journalist Trent Toone
Geoff Steurer and 8-year-old Andy were standing in a grocery store checkout line one day when the father noticed his son had been hypnotized by a collection of magazine covers featuring immodestly dressed women.
Steurer had seen that look before with his other boys. He bent down, put his arm around his son and gently turned him toward the shelves of candy as a teaching opportunity unfolded.
“You notice those women don’t have many clothes on and it kind of gets your attention, doesn’t it?” Steurer said to his son. “We probably ought to give them some privacy like we give mom when she is changing her clothes.”
It was an educational moment for young Andy. Steurer, a licensed marriage and family therapist, explained in simple terms that magazine covers are designed to grab a person’s attention and he didn’t know why the girls allowed themselves to be photographed as they undressed. He wanted his son to understand it’s natural for males to be attracted to females, but only in an honorable, appropriate context and manner.
“It’s a tricky balance because you want to set boundaries, but at the same time validate and allow our boys to understand that this is a God-given reaction they are having,” Steurer said. “If we do it gently, respectfully and honestly, I think they get a clear message that, yes, this feels good, but no, not in this way, not here, not right now, not with this person.”
Steurer’s experience is just one example of many methods that parents can use to teach their children how to respect the opposite sex. Parents, especially fathers, can set a standard of respect through their behavior, language, media choices and a number of other actions.
From Gail: I can't seem to make the web address something to just click on. Please copy and paste it and continue reading.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865573075/Teaching-children-by-how-you-treat-your-spouse.html?pg=1
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