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finallyprettyokay · 07-12-2008, 06:52 AM

Peter said: As a stupid anecdote to this: have you ever heard the "pick up line" used by a "young person": "sister, I really enjoyed your spirit in your testimony."

Yeah, I have. Waaay back when, as a young single sister, hoping hard for a husband, that sort of thing was almost -- well, like 'singles-bar' talk must be. ( I am only going by what I have seen in movies on that. Thank the Lord, I did find my husband and have never had to suffer the worldly game of dating. Whew!!! Not sure I would ever have been up to that insanity!
Anyway, that was how we really did talk. Once, I was sort of on a date with a brother -- not that anyone dated, mind you --- heck no --- we went to this little neighborhood Mexican food place, and while we were eating I got a way too big dose of hot peppers. My face was burning, tears were running down my face, and the brother just kept talking about the New Jersalem desending out of heaven from God. I mean, he just kept talking about it. Finally he looked up at me and said 'is something wrong?'. I knew he was NOT the man for me.

Peter, your questions about parenting touch my heart very much. My kids are in their mid 20's and 30's, and with a doubt, the best thing I ever did. For what it is worth, here are my words of wisdom:

1. Just enjoy them. Love the heck out of those babies, and know that they will always be your kids. I loved Testing123's story about his kids, and school. I just betcha the sisters that asked him those questions aren't in Testing's life anymore, that's just how it works. But his kids are still his kids.

B. What djohnson said was exactly what I would say. Concerning this: [B][Be authentic human beings. Take your kids on vacation, get them into sports, go to Disney World with them, etc./B]-- having been in the LC (luckily my first child was two when we exited with joy and dancing

so he wasn't too affected), where NOTHING was okay for kids -- no actitivites at all, other than 'the church life' --- my idea became this: say yes as often as you can to your kids. Yes, yes, yes. Yes, we can go to the park. Yes, we can rent a movie, or go on vacation or you can be on a sports team. Yes, we will get a Christmas tree. Yes, we will go visit Grandma. Yes, we will go for a fun family drive (maybe a walk, with gas prices

). Yes, yes, yes. Realize when we were in the LC (70's) none of these things were 'allowed'.
So, say yes as much as you possibly can, so when you have to say no, to protect your kids from danger or influences that you can't agree with, hopefully they will remember all the yeses, and take the no well. In my experience, they actually DO remember. Mostly. Usually. Not always. But, mostly.

And Peter, your story about your dad is flat out amazing and wonderful. You will be an excellent dad, you had a good role model, I think.

This is my longest post EVER.

finallyprettyokay

07-12-2008, 06:52 AM	#10
finallyprettyokay Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 129	Peter said: As a stupid anecdote to this: have you ever heard the "pick up line" used by a "young person": "sister, I really enjoyed your spirit in your testimony." Yeah, I have. Waaay back when, as a young single sister, hoping hard for a husband, that sort of thing was almost -- well, like 'singles-bar' talk must be. ( I am only going by what I have seen in movies on that. Thank the Lord, I did find my husband and have never had to suffer the worldly game of dating. Whew!!! Not sure I would ever have been up to that insanity! Anyway, that was how we really did talk. Once, I was sort of on a date with a brother -- not that anyone dated, mind you --- heck no --- we went to this little neighborhood Mexican food place, and while we were eating I got a way too big dose of hot peppers. My face was burning, tears were running down my face, and the brother just kept talking about the New Jersalem desending out of heaven from God. I mean, he just kept talking about it. Finally he looked up at me and said 'is something wrong?'. I knew he was NOT the man for me. Peter, your questions about parenting touch my heart very much. My kids are in their mid 20's and 30's, and with a doubt, the best thing I ever did. For what it is worth, here are my words of wisdom: 1. Just enjoy them. Love the heck out of those babies, and know that they will always be your kids. I loved Testing123's story about his kids, and school. I just betcha the sisters that asked him those questions aren't in Testing's life anymore, that's just how it works. But his kids are still his kids. B. What djohnson said was exactly what I would say. Concerning this: [B][Be authentic human beings. Take your kids on vacation, get them into sports, go to Disney World with them, etc./B]-- having been in the LC (luckily my first child was two when we exited with joy and dancing so he wasn't too affected), where NOTHING was okay for kids -- no actitivites at all, other than 'the church life' --- my idea became this: say yes as often as you can to your kids. Yes, yes, yes. Yes, we can go to the park. Yes, we can rent a movie, or go on vacation or you can be on a sports team. Yes, we will get a Christmas tree. Yes, we will go visit Grandma. Yes, we will go for a fun family drive (maybe a walk, with gas prices ). Yes, yes, yes. Realize when we were in the LC (70's) none of these things were 'allowed'. So, say yes as much as you possibly can, so when you have to say no, to protect your kids from danger or influences that you can't agree with, hopefully they will remember all the yeses, and take the no well. In my experience, they actually DO remember. Mostly. Usually. Not always. But, mostly. And Peter, your story about your dad is flat out amazing and wonderful. You will be an excellent dad, you had a good role model, I think. This is my longest post EVER. finallyprettyokay Last edited by finallyprettyokay; 07-12-2008 at 08:45 AM.