On Life at Home

Those
Teachable
Moments
Sometimes Life And a Good
Teacher Are All You Need
By Randy Williams
There’s a battle at my
house. Frequently, my ‘tweenager
blurts out words that bring
shock and awe to his mother
and me. After a knee-jerk scolding,
sometimes we realize that
he didn’t even know what he
was saying. Today, crude words
are carelessly hurled by sports
figures and celebrities. He probably
heard someone cool say
something and decided to give
it a try. A test to see if I know all
these words, or trying to appear
cool like the person he heard
say it. Whatever the reason, if
I see a look of bewilderment on
his face by our harsh reaction, I
pull out my diagnostic question:
“Son, do you have any idea what
that word means?”
“Nooo…not really. So-and-so
says it all the time. What does
it mean?”
My turn to shock and awe. I’ve
found if I tell him in blunt terms,
“Here is what you are saying…
how do you think it would
make you feel to be called a
________?” Or, “Do you think
that is honoring God and consistent
with your values?”
“Oooh. That is kinda bad.” Normally,
we never hear it used
again.
So, my challenge is to try not to
be so reflexive to what he says.
But, for some reason, it’s still
offends my ears to hear kids
using such crude words that
were heard only in rare company
back in my youth.
My son is being raised in a for-