Preserving Innocence in Your Children

Too Much Too Fast?

I was admiring my daughter's cherub face with my husband when he said, "Look how innocent she is." That one statement is such a powerful one. Innocence. What does that mean? Webster's has a few definitions, 1. freedom from guilt or sin through being acquainted with evil 2. lack of worldly experience. Yep, that about covers it. My daughter is guilt-free and has very little worldly experience. She has not had harm brought to her by the outside world or by anyone who knows her or have been in contact with her. Her innocence is fully intact, thankfully!

I then turn to my other children. Our other daughter, our five year old, still is very innocent, too. Not as much as the two year old, but by all accounts she's innocent. How about our two oldest, our sons in middle school? Innocent? To some degree, yes, but they are from broken homes and they've spent a few years roaming this planet. Their innocence is being preserved by those who love them and see them daily. Our family fights daily to keep these boys planted firmly in their innocence. Do we have them in a deep dark cave? Nope. They watch some of the news, listen to music and skateboard with their friends. Do they hear things that are not age-appropriate? I'm sure they do. Do we speak to them in a manner in which we shouldn't? Well, yes, unfortunately. We're humans and we make mistakes. But, in all the things that we do wrong, we try our best to do what's best. We don't always do the right things. Who does? Show me the "perfect" parent and I'll show you someone hiding some very dark things. My definition of the perfect parent is someone who has their child's BEST interest at heart, they try to do what's right for their child even if it means sacrificing their own needs, and when that parent messes up the admit to it. They show their child that humans, parents, make mistakes, just like they do, but when you make a mistake you own up to it and ask for forgiveness. Once again, I don't always do that, but I'm not perfect, I just try my best.