GOD AND FAITH

Another mistake I did not make was leaving God and Faith out of my parental teachings. Every child needs some kind of spiritual guidance while they are growing up. Many parents today think that they don't want to "force" their religious beliefs on their children, and that they can make up their own minds when they are adults. That is such a mistake that many people make and I will tell you why. We are all here because of a higher power. I believe it is God. Whatever or whoever you believe put you here, pass it on to your children. Give them something to hold onto as they grow up. We all need hope, even when we are little. Children need to know that they have to be held accountable for their actions, and if they do something immoral or wrong, that there are consequences to what they are doing. They also need to know that they are loved unconditionally by Someone and no matter what mistakes they make, they are no less loved. I took my children to be baptized, for their First Holy Communion, and for their Confirmation. I am not sure that they were ready at age seven to understand the complete meaning of receiving The Holy Sacrament, or were ready to confirm their religion at age fourteen. But what I am sure of is that I gave them a structured religion that I believe in, and that they can branch out from there and find their own way. There were times when I was in church with my kids when they were young and they were so bad that I wanted to pull my hair out.  I am sure my mother and father felt the same way when they took all ten children to church with them. It is so much easier to take the easy way out and stay home, but if my parents hadn't instilled their religious beliefs in me when I was young, I am not sure what kind of a person I would be today. My religion has taught me to love God and to have faith and hope when it looks like all is lost. I am not saying that all of my siblings have the same beliefs that I have, but at least my parents gave us the opportunity to explore a religion when we were young. It gave me a sense of belonging, and it still does to this day. If you don't have your own religion, take your kids to different churches and explore the religions with them. When your child becomes a teenager, it is tougher than ever for them. If they had some kind of a spiritual connection, they would have something to fall back on when they felt lost. Not giving them anything is a big mistake.