On CBS Sunday Morning, writer-actor Ben Stein issued a call for expressing gratitude to our parents. I’ll let Ben speak for himself:
Bravo.
- Comment
- Reblog
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Ethics Alarms 
This is really great, Jack. One note, though — not everyone has had parents who deserve gratitude. Some parents do. Some parents deserve not gratitude but understanding, patience, and compassion. Other parents just deserve a swift kick in the rear. And some parents deserve a mixture. But for those who have parents who weren’t monsters or self-absorbed, we need to say and show our thanks. Wish mine were still around to tell them.
A police officer in my city once walked in on an environment where a toddler was crawling over broken beer bottles on the floor and the father wouldn’t even let the officer see the 8-year-old until she got thoroughly assertive, at which point she found the 8-year-old daughter bleeding from her ears.
The daughter went into foster care, established herself in adulthood, started a successful family of her own, and expressed gratitude. She looked up the police officer (which may have taken some research) and called to thank her.
The principle should be to express gratitude to those who have earned it.
I would think that’s implicit, though. You didn’t think Ben or I were suggesting that the kids of these two should be grateful, did you?
Not many people have monsters for parents. I don’t think Mr. Stein meant his comments to lead off in that direction. I had wonderful parents, grandparents and as far back as I know everyone in my ancestry did. I thank them without reservation.
The majority of young people have parents who are better than they realize until later- and when it’s too late to tell them. Parenting skills may well be at a low ebb these days, the unfortunate effect of a polluted culture and college experience. But the paternal and maternal instincts that God blessed us with still make their presence know in spite of this. Parenting is a learning experience for both the parents and children alike. Most get it basically right in the end. Providing families a “family friendly” environment in which to prosper is a key factor that badly needs to be addressed.
I second this.
As Dennis Prager puts it (paraphrased): you’ll be a successful parent if you bestow no more than half of your own neuroses, OCDs or other minor character flaws on your own children.
I know. I’m still dealing with my dad’s legacy!!
I had one parent who was pretty much there for me and my siblings and one who would probably fit the “self-absorbed” category. Although the latter was a good provider and I never lacked for decent clothes and meals, there are scars that have taken me a long time to work though. Still, they deserve gratitude for what they did.