Raise Kids to Be Successful, or Kind?

"The level of our success is limited only by our imagination and no act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted."

-- Aesop

I guess an "OpEd" came out, over the past couple of days, saying that parents should be mentoring their children to be kind more than successful.  What this editor missed is that being constantly kind is, in itself, success.  But, I don't think the OpEd was that philosophically deep.  No, basically, we are continuing to put forth the idea that parents are too inept to multitask where children are concerned.  Parents can't mentor even two qualities equally.  No surprise here.  Parents, for the most part, haven't been parenting children for years, yet we expect them to mentor kindness over success?  Well, teaching kindness is easier so I suppose this probably makes sense where young parents are concerned.  They won't have to waste their own valuable time doting over their children's needs.  Besides, real success is overrated and has been replaced by "participation" awards.  Why strive for first place, after all, when all you have to do is show up?  Yes, this just has to make a parent proud, right?

The welfare rolls are littered with people who are kind and lack the tools to be successful.  For obvious reasons, the government seems to be fine with this.  How about the government limit the duration of welfare, and then teach these folks the basics of success, and then assist them in procuring a job. 

I could write a lengthy post on this, but simply the idea put forth by this OpEd was so basically idiotic I see no reason to belabor the issue any longer than necessary.  It strikes me that this editor must have graduated from one of our country's liberal institutions of "acceptable" education.  "Higher" education, after all, would require a sense of success and these institutions can't even wrap their curriculum around "kindness" without hiding in a "safe place" on campus, so I'd assume any true concept of success would totally escape them, as well.

As a parent, if you can't teach both concepts equally, how kind are you actually being toward your children?  How prepared for the world are you mentoring them to be?  How smart does this make you look?  Suffice to say, it is possible to be both kind and successful, and it is also possible to teach both equally.  

Our kindness is our success in the realization that it is incumbent upon each of us to mentor others in our successes so they might also succeed and, thereby, enjoy the fruits of their own labors.

"Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness."

-- George Sand

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.