I came across an interesting article by Theresa Civantos Barber over on Aleteia,
"Flannery O’Connor’s perfect parenting advice."
The article begins:
When my kids don't want to do their chores or go on a family hike, you can count on me quoting Flannery O'Connor!There’s a phrase of Flannery O’Connor’s that I quote so much I’ve started to take it as a motto for parenting.
O’Connor wasn’t talking about parenting when she said it. She was actually talking about education. But are those really so different? The Catechism itself says that parents are called to be their children’s “primary educators.”
Barber then quotes O'Connor:
"And if the student finds that this is not to his taste? Well, that is regrettable. Most regrettable. His taste should not be consulted; it is being formed."
She also brings C. S. Lewis into the discussion:
"Aristotle says that the aim of education is to make the pupil like and dislike what he ought… The little human animal will not at first have the right responses. It must be trained to feel pleasure, liking, disgust, and hatred at those things which really are pleasant, likeable, disgusting and hateful."
Barber points out the importance of the parents forming the child's tastes through activities from chores to homework to hikes. And she finds joy in that.
"One of the best things about being a parent is sharing the things we love with our kids, so we can enjoy them together."
Check out the rest of what Barber also has to say.
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