Respect, humility and courage — foundational to a happy, healthy society — have been diminished in our culture.
My wife and I aimed to instill those values in our boys, Trent and Troy, by enrolling them in Cotillion, an etiquette class that prepares children to interact with each other with manners as mature young men and women.
The boys were apprehensive, but I assured them, “Don’t worry, guys. They’ll mostly teach you table manners.” Boy, was I wrong. A good portion of the experience was about ballroom-style dancing. They were mortified. I still remember my oldest, Trent, glaring at me from across the room, his eyes saying, “Wait until I get a hold of you.” Fortunately, it all turned out for the best. Those unexpected moments contributed to their growth as much as the planned lessons. Later, Trent told me, “That’s where I learned how to shake someone’s hand properly and look an adult in the eye.”
If you’re wondering how to raise children who are morally courageous, grounded in truth, and able to stand strong against the temptations of today’s culture, tune in to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly. My guest is author Jill Garner.
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