Respect is rare

Sad to say, but true. Over the years and stretching back for many generations, adults have said something like, “The children today just don’t respect their elders.” Sometimes this statement means, “The kids today just don’t obey adults.” Many children today are raised to question and to challenge. They are not given firm, loving limits. Their “disrespectful” behavior can also be developmental. It is very natural for adolescents who will soon be stepping out on their own to push their elders away. They want to claim their own ideas. They want to speak to what is most important to them.

I would like to also suggest that we are partly to blame for this lack of respect. How often do we really show our respect to children? Do we show our acceptance of them, even when their behavior feels inappropriate? Do we include children in our conversations about our concerns and our joys? Do we listen to them, really listen, when they have something to say? Do we model respect of others - family members, neighbors, our fellow drivers on the road, shoppers in the market, with people from different cultures, from other nations?

Respectful relationships are nurturing. We feel accepted just as we are, and we feel free to speak our mind and know that our disagreement will not sever the relationship. Respect means paying attention and listening. With respect, we show our appreciation and gratitude for our relationships.

Children need our good examples. If kids today don’t respect their elders, that says something about us. And this is where we have the power to change. Let’s see if we can create a surge of kindness, cooperation and respect, starting here and now. Then, true respect will no longer be rare.