I think as parents, we get a lot of the grief when our kids mess up, but I see nothing wrong about giving ourselves a pat on the back when those same children do something to make you proud.

As with most behaviors in the youth of today, the input of the adult generation often dictates how their children perceive the world.

Do your kids lack compassion? Do you search for reasons? You may not have to look too far. In fact it may only be a matter of doing a little personal soul searching.

In today's high tech world, even parents will often get the feeling they are shut out of their children's world most of the time. They try and work in conversations with their "chatty" teen who seems to spend most of her life with a cell phone stuck to her ear. Or with a son who is glued to the ever-evolving world of fantasy computer games.

Where are you fitting in those meaningful conversations about being aware of the feelings of others? Where are your kids learning about having compassion for the sick, elderly, or for those who are just not as fortunate as they are?

Do you finally just give up and assume they will learn those valuable lessons elsewhere?

Don't count on it.

If I had one saving grace where my children were concerned, it's that the high tech world of personal computers, cell-phones, and I-pods was not yet quite born.

I had the time to talk to them about the more important things in life. I had the patience to let them learn their "street smarts" by trusting their judgment and letting them venture out into the world. By letting them see for themselves that so much more world existed out there. That so many people had so much less and fought a constant battle of surviving from one day to the next.

Now they have the best of both worlds. They love their cell phones and lap-tops, but at the same time have a great respect and compassion for all life that shares this amazing world.

They both love animals. With a special compassion for animals who are frightened and alone.

My daughter spends her days working with the young in day-care centers. She loves children.

My son aspires toward social work, and currently works at big city drop-in center for homeless youths. I can hear the hurt and compassion in his voice when he talks to me about teenagers who have eyes with no brightness, a heart with no hope, and nowhere to call home.

My kids may not have glamor careers, but they do have the priorities of life in the proper order. I know in my heart that as long as they live, they will never lack for compassion. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Of course there are many examples of today's youth not exhibiting compassion. That goes without saying.

However, we must ask ourselves how they have developed characters that seem to lack such an important component?

Each child comes into the world with a clean slate. What parents write on that slate in the formative years will go a long way to determining what their children lack, or display an abundance of, when it comes the make-up of their personalities.

A personality that will determine which road they will walk for the rest of their lives.

Learn more about this author, Ray Fauteux.
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